Premium
Alcohol outlet density and assault: a spatial analysis
Author(s) -
Livingston Michael
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02136.x
Subject(s) - neighbourhood (mathematics) , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , injury prevention , linear relationship , geography , demography , environmental health , psychology , medicine , statistics , mathematics , sociology , mathematical analysis
ABSTRACT Aims A large number of studies have found links between alcohol outlet densities and assault rates in local areas. This study tests a variety of specifications of this link, focusing in particular on the possibility of a non‐linear relationship. Design Cross‐sectional data on police‐recorded assaults during high alcohol hours, liquor outlets and socio‐demographic characteristics were obtained for 223 postcodes in Melbourne, Australia. These data were used to construct a series of models testing the nature of the relationship between alcohol outlet density and assault, while controlling for socio‐demographic factors and spatial auto‐correlation. Four types of relationship were examined: a normal linear relationship between outlet density and assault, a non‐linear relationship with potential threshold or saturation densities, a relationship mediated by the socio‐economic status of the neighbourhood and a relationship which takes into account the effect of outlets in surrounding neighbourhoods. Findings The model positing non‐linear relationships between outlet density and assaults was found to fit the data most effectively. An increasing accelerating effect for the density of hotel (pub) licences was found, suggesting a plausible upper limit for these licences in Melbourne postcodes. Conclusions The study finds positive relationships between outlet density and assault rates and provides evidence that this relationship is non‐linear and thus has critical values at which licensing policy‐makers can impose density limits.