The Role of Alcohol Policies in Preventing Intimate Partner Violence: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Objective-This article summarizes existing research on the relationship between alcohol policies and intimate partner violence (IPV). Because alcohol represents an important risk factor for IPV, interventions and policies aimed at decreasing problem drinking may also lead to reductions in IPV.Method-Electronic databases were searched to identify relevant peer-reviewed journal articles on alcohol policies and IPV, as well as reference sections of appropriate articles. Only policies that have been studied specifically for impact on IPV were included.Results-Three alcohol policy areas (outlet density, hours and days of sale, pricing/taxation) had been studied in relation to IPV outcomes. Research on outlet density had the most consistent findings, with most studies indicating that higher densities of alcohol outlets are associated with higher rates of IPV. Fewer studies had been conducted on pricing policies and policies restricting hours/days of sale, with most studies suggesting no impact on IPV rates.Conclusions-Higher density of alcohol outlets appears to be associated with greater rates of IPV. However, there is limited evidence suggesting that alcohol pricing policies and restrictions on hours/days of sale are associated with IPV outcomes. Knowledge about the impact of alcoholrelated policies on IPV and violence in general is limited by several significant research gaps. Additional research is needed to assess the impact of alcohol policies on IPV and other forms of violence.Approximately 80,000 deaths each year in the United States are directly or indirectly attributable to alcohol consumption, with global deaths attributable to alcohol estimated at 3.8% (CDC, 2008;Rehm et al., 2009). In 2006, the economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption (due to health care, productivity losses, and criminal justice costs, etc.) were estimated at $223.5 billion (Bouchery et al., 2011). To protect the health and safety of all citizens, the U.S. has identified reduction of alcohol misuse as a major component of their public health agenda for 2020 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). The World Health Association has also formally adopted a global strategy to reduce harmful alcohol use, due to the resultant health and economic burden worldwide (World Health Corresponding Author: Megan Kearns, Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS F-64, Atlanta, GA 30341, Phone: 770-488-1230, wti8@cdc.gov. The findings and conclusions in this review are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HHS Public Access Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author ManuscriptOrganization, 2010). Many alcohol-related policies and programs have been implemented at the state and local level to improve public health (Truman et al., 2000). By examining the public health impact of alcohol-related policies, researchers and policy makers can more readily assess the value of implementing the...

Alcohol use in family, domestic and other violence: Findings from a cross‐sectional survey of the Australian population

“…These are important findings from a policy perspective, given that the physical availability of alcohol in the population can be directly controlled by government (e.g. reducing trading hours and number of alcohol outlets), and such policies have consistently been shown to impact on FDV and OV .…”

Best Available Evidence for Preventing Intimate Partner Violence Across the Life Span

“…The final approach under create protective environments is modifying the physical and social environment of neighborhoods (Niolon et al 2017). Research also suggests that characteristics of communities and neighborhoods are associated with higher rates of IPV, including factors such as alcohol outlet density, physical disorder and decay, social disorder, and higher rates of crime and violence (Browning 2002;Kearns et al 2015;Raghavan et al 2006). Neighborhoods with higher rates of crime and signs of disorder may impact community norms surrounding aggression and violence and decrease concerns of negative consequences for perpetration of IPV, such as police intervention (Cunradi 2010;Raghavan et al 2006).…”

Is proximity to alcohol outlets associated with alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in Denmark?

“…From a public health policy perspective, regulating alcohol outlets through zoning and licensing has been shown to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and related harm (Kearns et al, 2015). However, given that our limited results are the only findings so far on the subject in Denmark; further study is required to determine whether regulating alcohol outlets reduces alcohol consumption and related harm in this country.…”

“…With respect to alcohol-related harm, systematic literature reviews by Popova et al (2009), Campbell et al (2009), Kearns, Reidy, and Valle (2015) and Gmel, Holmes, and Studer (2016) have shown that greater alcohol availability was positively associated with alcohol-related harm. More specifically, research has shown a significant association between alcohol outlets and alcohol-related problems (Fone et al, 2016;Popova et al, 2009), assault rates (Livingston, 2008), rates of violent crime (Norstrom, 2000;Toomey et al, 2012), higher concentrations of robbery (Snowden & Freiburger, 2015), and mortality (Richardson, Hill, Mitchell, Pearce, & Shortt, 2015).…”