Spatial relationships between alcohol-related road crashes and retail alcohol availability

Abstract

Background This study examines spatial relationships between alcohol outlet density and the incidence of alcohol-related crashes. The few prior studies conducted in this area used relatively large spatial units; here we use highly resolved units from Melbourne, Australia (Statistical Area level 1 [SA1] units: mean land area = 0.5 km2; SD = 2.2 km2), in order to assess different micro-scale spatial relationships for on- and off-premise outlets. Methods Bayesian conditional autoregressive Poisson models were used to assess cross-sectional relationships of three-year counts of alcohol-related crashes (2010 to 2012) attended by Ambulance Victoria paramedics to densities of bars, restaurants, and off-premise outlets controlling for other land use, demographic and roadway characteristics. Results Alcohol-related crashes were not related to bar density within local SA1 units, but were positively related to bar density in adjacent SA1 units. Alcohol-related crashes were negatively related to off-premise outlet density in local SA1 units. Conclusions Examined in one metropolitan area using small spatial units, bar density is related to greater crash risk in surrounding areas. Observed negative relationships for off-premise outlets may be because the origins and destinations of alcohol-affected journeys are in distal locations relative to outlets.

Association between state‐level alcohol availability and taxation policies on the prevalence of alcohol‐related harms to persons other than the drinker in the USA, 2000–2015

“…A large literature consistently shows that outlet density is associated with physical AHTO, such as violent crime [41,58] and child abuse [59], as well as alcoholinvolved motor vehicle crashes [60][61][62]. Our analysis detected associations between bar density and drivingrelated harms.…”

Using Rural–Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCS) to Examine Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Crash Injury and Enforcement in New York State

“…Per capita serving for on-premise consumption and selling for off-premise consumption showed a non-significant bivariate relationship to MV injury, while alcohol-related MV crash injury per road mile showed an inverse relationship for both on-premise and off-premise alcohol establishments. Previous studies in California and elsewhere found positive associations between bar density and risk of alcohol-related MV crashes [28,29,30,31,32] although it should be noted that some of these studies also included property damage only crashes as well as those producing injury or did not control for other environmental factors such as rurality, geographic proximity to an urban area, socioeconomic factors or alternative transportation availability and accessibility.…”

Proximity to the Southern Border and Sociodemographic Correlates of Drinking and Driving Arrests in California

“…Demographic (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, birthplace) and community indicators of instability (e.g., percent 150% below federal poverty level, percent unemployed, percent owner‐occupied housing) were included in the model to control for factors previously found to be associated with DUI or alcohol‐related crashes (Gruenewald et al, 2002; Gruenewald and Ponicki, 1995; Lipton et al, 2018; Morrison et al, 2016). Two additional indicators were included as control variables: “Non‐DUI arrests per capita” controls for the level of police enforcement activity in each LERA and a “County‐residual area” indicator controls for the possible differences in DUI arrest rates in unincorporated (usually rural) areas relative to rates in towns and cities.…”