Public availability of distilled spirits: structural and reported consumption changes associated with liquor-by-the-drink

The impact of the implementation of liquor-by-the-drink (LBD) in North Carolina on the availability of distilled spirits and on individual drinking behavior is evaluated. Distilled spirits outlet data show that the shift from brown-bagging to LBD resulted in a 250% increase in the number of places where liquor could be purchased, whereas the number of on-premise establishments where liquor could be consumed remained relatively constant. Most drinkers in both LBD and non-LBD counties purchase mixed beverages at least occasionally, and such consumption occurs only slightly less frequently than on-premise beer and wine consumption.