Alcohol Availability and Neighborhood Characteristics in Los Angeles, California and Southern Louisiana

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the associations between alcohol availability types and community characteristics in randomly selected census tracts in Southern California and Southeastern Louisiana. Outlet shelf space and price by beverage type was collected from all off-sale alcohol outlets in 189 census tracts by trained research personnel. Three aspects of alcohol availability at the census tract level were considered-outlets per roadway mile, shelf space, and least price by beverage type. Using multivariate analyses, we examined the associations between census tract socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and alcohol availability types. Fifteen measures of alcohol availability were calculated-total shelf space and shelf space by beverage types (beer, malt liquor, and distilled spirits); outlets per roadway mile, per tract, and per capita; and least price by beverage type (including wine). In multivariate analyses controlling for state, male unemployment rate was inversely associated with total shelf space (p=0.03) and distilled spirit shelf space (p=0.05). Malt liquor shelf space was inversely associated with percent White (p=0.02). Outlets per roadway mile was positively associated with household poverty (pG0.0001), whereas percent African American was inversely associated with outlets per roadway mile (p=0.03). Beveragespecific least prices were not associated with any socioeconomic or demographic community characteristics. Alcohol availability types, but not least price, were associated with some community characteristics. More research exploring how alcohol availability types vary by community and their relationship to alcohol-related harms should be conducted.

Effects of Policies to Restrict Malt Liquor Sales on Neighborhood Crime

“…Malt liquor is readily available and heavily promoted in many poor, inner-city neighborhoods. Bluthenthal et al (2008) found a positive association between retail shelf space devoted to malt liquor and poverty in retail outlets in Los Angeles and southeastern Louisiana. Jones-Webb et al (2008) observed that malt liquor ads accounted for a third of all storefront advertising on alcohol outlets in poor neighborhoods in 10 U.S. cities. Malt liquor consumption is associated with several troublesome drinking patterns that may contribute to neighborhood problems, including frequent and heavy drinking, rapid consumption, drinking outdoors, and drinking in the morning or afternoon (Bluthenthal, Brown-Taylor, Guzman-Becerra, & Robinson, 2005;Bradizza, Collins, Vincent & Falco, 2006;Chen & Paschall, 2003;Vilamovska, Brown-Taylor, & Bluthenthal, 2009).…”

“…Malt liquor is distinguished from regular beer by its higher alcohol content, lower price, and larger typical container sizes, including the 40-ounce bottle (Bluthenthal et al, 2008;Jones-Webb et al, 2008;U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008).…”

Urban landscapes of adolescent substance use

“…Disadvantaged areas, particularly those in the inner city, may also have other factors that increase substance abuse, such as numerous alcohol outlets and open illegal drug scenes (Bluthenthal et al, 2008).…”

Social Adversity, Stress, and Alcohol Problems: Are Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Poor More Vulnerable?

“…Contextual factors such as drinking norms and the availability of alcohol in the environment can also infl uence the extent to which individuals drink alcohol in response to stress (e.g., Herd, 1994;Huckle et al, 2008;Lindenberg et al, 1999;Scribner et al, 2000). Importantly, racial/ethnic minorities and low-income persons are more likely to reside in communities with more alcohol outlets and aggressive alcohol advertising (Bluthenthal et al, 2008;Pollack et al, 2005), and have been shown to have fewer stressbuffering and coping resources (Meyer et al, 2008;Pearlin et al, 1981;Thoits, 1995). These groups might, therefore, be more negatively affected by experiences of social adversity and psychological stress.…”