Longitudinal associations of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics and alcohol availability on drinking: Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract

Neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics and alcohol availability may affect alcohol consumption, but adequate longitudinal research to support these hypotheses does not exist. We used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) (N= 6163) to examine associations of changes in neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and alcohol outlet density, with current, weekly, and heavy daily alcohol consumption in hybrid effects models. We also examined whether these associations were moderated by gender, race/ethnicity, and income. Increases in neighborhood SES were associated with decreases in the probability of current alcohol use after adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, individual SES, marital status and time since baseline [probability ratio (PR) per SD increase in neighborhood SES = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.96,0.99)]. Increases in liquor store densities were associated with increases in weekly alcohol consumption [ratio of weekly drinks per SD increase in outlet density= 1.07, 95% CI (1.01,1.05) for men, PR = 1.11, 95% CI (1.01,1.21) for women]. Relationships between current alcohol use and neighborhood SES and between weekly beer consumption and neighborhood SES were generally stronger among those with higher incomes. Neighborhood socioeconomic context and the availability of alcohol may be important for understanding patterns of alcohol use over time, and for targeting interventions and policies to reduce harmful alcohol use.

The Impact of Neighborhoods on CV Risk

“…Five factors, capturing 74% of the variance, explained were retained. [50] The scales are linked to MESA participants by census tract using Census 2000 data for years 2000–2004, ACS 2005- 2009 data for years 2005–2007, and ACS 2007-2011 data for years 2008–2012.…”

“…[50] Increases in liquor store densities[50] and neighborhood foreclosures were associated with increases in weekly alcohol consumption. Increases in neighborhood-level foreclosure were associated with decreases in the number of cigarettes smoked (Crawford N et al, unpublished).…”

Liquor landscapes: Does access to alcohol outlets influence alcohol consumption in young adults?

“…For a sample of Finnish adults (mean age=44.2 years), decreasing the distance to the nearest on-premise venue was associated with increases in heavy alcohol use (Halonen et al, 2013). In contrast, two studies have examined the relationship between off-premise licences (e.g., liquor stores) and alcohol consumption, and both identified significant effects (Brenner et al, 2015, Cooper et al, 2013. Brenner et al (2016) found that increasing off-premise licence density within 1 mile from home was associated with increased alcohol consumption among older adults (mean baseline age=61.9 years), and Cooper et al (2013) found that a reduction in outlet density/square mile equated to reduced odds of binge drinking among public housing tenants who relocated (mean baseline age=43.1 years).…”

“…Despite considerable cross-sectional evidence, few longitudinal studies have tested whether there is a relationship between alcohol outlet density and adults' individual-level alcohol consumption (Bryden et al, 2012, Gmel et al, 2015. Three studies have examined associations between the density of, or proximity to, on-premise venues (e.g., bars, nightclubs, taverns) (Picone et al, 2010, Brenner et al, 2015, Halonen et al, 2013, but just one identified a significant relationship. For a sample of Finnish adults (mean age=44.2 years), decreasing the distance to the nearest on-premise venue was associated with increases in heavy alcohol use (Halonen et al, 2013).…”

“…Strategies to curb the widespread community availability of alcohol are advocated to help minimise alcohol consumption and harms (Kypri et al, 2008, Brenner et al, 2015, Rowland et al, 2016, Badland et al, 2015. Indeed, a decade ago, Stockwell and Gruenewald (2004, p.225) concluded that on balance, studies 'strongly suggest that limits on outlet density may be an effective means of controlling alcohol problems and need to be taken more seriously as an effective policy tool for the reduction of alcohol-related harm' (Stockwell and Gruenewald, 2004).…”