Individual-Level Interventions for Alcohol-Related Harm in Night-Time Entertainment Precincts: A Scoping Review

Alcohol-related harm in Night-Time Entertainment Precincts (NEP) presents significant challenges for public health, law enforcement and policymakers. While population-wide measures are well established, less attention has been given to individual-level interventions targeting harmful alcohol consumption and violence. This review evaluates the current evidence base on individual-level interventions designed to reduce alcohol-related harm in NEPs.

A systematic search was conducted in March 2024 (updated search in January 2025) across ProQuest, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Medline, Scopus and grey literature sources (Google Web and Google Scholar). Studies were included if they were peer-reviewed, published in English and examined the effectiveness/perceived effectiveness of individual-level interventions for alcohol-related harm in NEPs.

The search identified 3127 articles, with 15 meeting inclusion criteria. Studies were categorised into exclusion strategies (patron bans; n = 10) and behavioural strategies (personalised screening, brief interventions, breathalysers in licensed premises and a bystander intervention; n = 5). Outcomes included assault rates, desistance, blood alcohol levels, self-reported number of drinks consumed and frequency of staff intervention in a bar setting. Evidence on the overall effectiveness of exclusion and behavioural interventions was difficult to assess due to different outcome measures, variability in methodologies and intervention implementation.

Rigorously designed studies with consistent outcome measures are needed to strengthen the evidence base and increase confidence in the effectiveness of individual-level interventions that target alcohol-related harm in NEPs.

Exclusion strategies demonstrated limited evidence supporting their long-term effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related harm, whereas behavioural approaches show greater promise for reducing alcohol-related harm among high-risk drinkers.