NCJ Number
217520
Date Published
April 2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of a New South Wales (NSW) study investigating the relationship between the concentration of licensed premises in a given area and perceptions of alcohol-related problems in that locale.
Abstract
Results of the study showed that respondents who lived closer to liquor outlets were more likely to report problems in their neighborhood with both drunkenness and property damage. The results also showed that respondents living in areas with a higher density of liquor outlets per 10,000 population were more likely to report neighborhood problems with drunkenness. These findings have direct relevance for the current policy debate on liquor licensing deregulation in the context of the National Competition Policy (NCP) reviews. A recurring issue for liquor licensing policymakers is the extent to which restrictions should be placed on the availability of alcohol in order to minimize alcohol-related harms in the community. There is a substantial amount of evidence in the scientific literature showing a cross-sectional relationship between alcohol outlet density and a range of alcohol-related harms. Utilizing a sample of over 9,300 New South Wales (NSW) residents included in the 2002 National Crime and Safety Survey, this investigation was intended to provide timely information about the relationship between liquor outlet concentrations and alcohol-related problems in local neighborhoods. Figures, tables and references