Community Health Profile: Alcohol Outlets and Violence In Philadelphia

Data Brief
January 2017

View the brief: Alcohol Outlets and Violence In Philadelphia [PDF]

While individual diet and physical activity behaviors impact obesity, community and institutional settings may shape behaviors and precursors of obesity. Food insecurity, the uncertain ability to acquire sufficient and nutritious foods in socially acceptable ways, may at first seem counter to obesity — a disease often characterized by an excess of food. However, these two issues often coexist. Most importantly, food insecurity disproportionately affects those at the highest risk for obesity, including low-income households, women, and members of racial and ethnic minority groups.

Until recently in Pennsylvania, only state stores could sell wine and liquor and beer has mostly been sold at beer distributors. However, a new Pennsylvania law, HB1690 Liquor Reform Bill is gradually phasing-in changes that will increase the availability of alcohol in the state.

The new law allows grocery stores to apply for permits to sell wine and beer and convenience stores (including gas stations) to apply for permits to sell beer. New restaurant liquor licenses will be auctioned. State stores will continue to be the sole retailers of liquor (in addition to selling wine) but the new regulations enhance state store marketing. New state store marketing will include: more product promotion and discounting, state lottery sales to all state liquor stores (thereby increasing sales opportunities by attracting non-shoppers to alcohol outlets) and extended retail hours on Sunday evening.

Studies in other cities have shown that neighborhoods that have more stores selling alcohol have higher rates of violence, alcohol-related traffic crashes, and other public health and social problems. Research has shown that changes in alcohol laws to allow expanded sales are linked to changes in some of these outcomes. For example, in Washington State, recent relaxation of restrictions on alcohol sales, and resulting increases in sales in places like grocery stores and warehouse clubs, was followed by a 5-8% increase in assaults with each new outlet within a neighborhood.

This Urban Health Collaborative data brief describes the relationships among neighborhood characteristics, alcohol outlets, violent crime, and proximity to schools in Philadelphia. These data can be used to anticipate potential public health effects that might occur with expansion of alcohol sales in Philadelphia. We focus on stores that sell alcohol for consumption elsewhere (off-premise sales) because the public health impact of these outlets is greater than that of bars and restaurants (on premise sales).

Read the full brief Alcohol Outlets and Violence In Philadelphia [PDF], including key findings and recommendations.

Citation:

Auchincloss AH, Buehler JW, Moore KA, Melly SJ, Diez Roux AV. Alcohol outlets and violence in Philadelphia. Urban Health Collaborative Data Brief Number 1, 2017. Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University: Philadelphia, PA.