A Spatial Analysis of Student Binge Drinking, Alcohol-Outlet Density, and Social Disadvantages

Abstract

Background and Objectives This paper examined whether and how student binge drinking at the individual level was influenced by population disadvantages, community instability, alcohol-outlet density, and protective factors generated by community and school. Methods We used a dataset collected in 2002 by the Alabama Department of Mental Health, with additional materials generated by the 2000 Census and from the Alabama State Department of Education. School-catchments were employed as geographic units of analysis. The final sample comprised 78,138 public-school students in grades 6–12 who attended schools located in the 566 school-catchments. Results We hypothesized the presence of spatial processes that, once identified, would enhance understanding of student binge drinking. Our results confirmed that student binge drinking in a focal area was affected by that area’s structural factors and also by individual-level risk and protective factors. The results did not support the hypothesized impact of surrounding areas’ characteristics on student binge drinking in the focal area. Conclusions and Scientific Significance The results of our study clearly indicate that both environment-based factors and individual-level risk and protective factors are important in explaining student binge drinking in Alabama.

Does Industry-Driven Alcohol Marketing Influence Adolescent Drinking Behaviour? A Systematic Review

“…Participants ranged between 9 and 17 years old at baseline; sample sizes ranged from 172 to 371,194 participants. In total, 57% ( n  = 20) of the studies originated in the USA (Workman, 2003; Stacy et al ., 2004; Zogg, 2004; Ellickson et al ., 2005; McClure et al ., 2006; Saffer and Dave, 2006; Collins et al ., 2007; Fisher et al ., 2007; Paschall et al ., 2007; Dumsha, 2008; Grenard, 2008; Henriksen et al ., 2008; Truong, 2008; McClure et al ., 2009; Pasch et al ., 2009; Tobler, 2009; Tobler et al ., 2009; Truong and Sturm, 2009; Chen et al ., 2010; Dumsha, 2011; Reboussin et al ., 2011; Shamblen et al ., 2011; Stanley et al ., 2011; Tobler et al ., 2011; Stoolmiller et al ., 2012; Grenard et al ., 2013; Lo et al ., 2013a, b; McClure et al ., 2013; Rowland et al ., 2014), 6% ( n  = 2) from the UK (Gordon et al ., 2010a, b; Gordon, 2011; Young et al ., 2013), 9% ( n  = 3) from Australia (Jones and Magee, 2011; Rowland et al ., 2014; Azar et al ., 2016), 6% ( n  = 2) from New Zealand (Huckle et al ., 2008; Lin et al ., 2012) and one study from Denmark (Bendtsen et al ., 2013), Brazil (Faria et al ., 2011), Switzerland (Kuntsche et al ., 2008), Zambia (Swahn et al ., 2011), the Philippines (Swahn et al ., 2013) and the Netherlands (van Hoof et al ., 2008). Two further studies (6%) spanned several European countries, with data collected in Germany, Italy, Scotland, the Netherlands and Poland (de Bruijn et al ., 2012; Anderson et al ., 2012; Morgenstern et al ., 2014; de Bruijn et al ., 2016a, b).…”

“…(2007) measured school district-level alcohol sales across 3 months whilst nine studies focused upon community-level outlet density (Huckle et al ., 2008; Kuntsche et al ., 2008; Truong, 2008; Pasch et al ., 2009; Chen et al ., 2010; Stanley et al ., 2011; Lo et al ., 2013a; Young et al ., 2013; Azar et al ., 2016). Young et al .…”

“…of drinks consumed in a typical occasion multiplied by frequency of alcohol use) among 12–17-year olds in Switzerland ( P < 0.05). Nevertheless, one study reported a mixture of positive associations and null results (Azar et al ., 2016); two studies identified negative as well as positive associations (Chen et al ., 2010; Stanley et al ., 2011); while four studies found no relationship whatsoever between alcohol outlet density and drinking frequency (Huckle et al ., 2008; Truong, 2008; Pasch et al ., 2009; Lo et al ., 2013a, b) (see Supplementary Table S2). Furthermore, despite a domination of studies measuring alcohol placement and drinking frequency, none were categorized methodologically ‘strong’ (moderate: n  = 5; weak: n  = 5).…”

“…Furthermore, no studies reported wholly positive associations. Thus, 4 studies (of 8, 50%) identified both positive associations and null results (Huckle et al ., 2008; Kuntsche et al ., 2008; Truong, 2008; Azar et al ., 2016), whilst 2 studies (of 8, 25%) reported both positive and negative associations (Chen et al ., 2010; Lo et al ., 2013a). Specifically, Lo et al .…”

Parental drinking and adolescent binge drinking: Findings from a nationwide high school survey in Japan

“…Community factors include the neighborhood and school environment. A recent study found that a supportive school environment (e.g., alcohol prevention incorporated into the curriculum) was associated with reduced adolescent binge drinking independent of individual, family, and peer risk factors (32).…”