Premium
Assessing the impact of Queensland's late‐night alcohol restrictions using health system data
Author(s) -
Livingston Michael,
Coomber Kerri,
de Andrade Dominique,
Taylor Nicholas,
Ferris Jason,
Puljević Cheneal,
Miller Peter G.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.13182
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational safety and health , poison control , environmental health , injury prevention , suicide prevention , interrupted time series , government (linguistics) , harm , interrupted time series analysis , medical emergency , alcohol intoxication , human factors and ergonomics , emergency department , psychological intervention , psychiatry , psychology , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , pathology
and Aims In an attempt to reduce alcohol‐related harm in night‐time entertainment precincts, the Queensland state government (Australia) introduced the Tackling Alcohol‐Fuelled Violence strategy in July 2016, including restrictions on late‐night service of alcohol and—later—compulsory ID scanners at venues. In this article, we examined the impact of these changes on emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital admissions for alcohol‐related harm. Design and Methods We used data on ED presentations (July 2009–June 2019) and hospital admissions (July 2009–December 2018). Interrupted time series models using seasonal auto‐regressive integrated moving average methods were developed to test the impact of the policy change on presentations for alcohol intoxication, any injury or maxillofacial fractures, and admissions for rates of assault‐related injuries or maxillofacial fractures. Analyses were conducted using state‐wide Queensland data with a sub‐analysis focussing on major Brisbane hospitals. Results The introduction of 3 am last drinks and mandatory ID scanners had no significant impact on most outcome measures, either across the state or within Brisbane. State‐wide, there was a significant decline in ED injury presentations following the introduction of mandatory ID scanners. Discussion and Conclusions The introduction of the Tackling Alcohol‐Fuelled Violence strategy in Queensland Safe Night Precincts was potentially associated with a small reduction in injury presentations to EDs. The lack of other impacts may relate to the relative lack of specificity in health system data, which challenges in the implementation of the Tackling Alcohol‐Fuelled Violence policies or other local factors.