Citation

Morrison C, Ponicki WR, Gruenewald PJ, Wiebe DJ, Smith K. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016; 162: 241-244.

Affiliation

Research and Evaluation Department, Ambulance Victoria, 31 Joseph St, Blackburn North, Victoria 3130, Australia. Electronic address: Karen.Smith@ambulance.vic.gov.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.02.033

PMID

26968094

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examines spatial relationships between alcohol outlet density and the incidence of alcohol-related crashes. The few prior studies conducted in this area used relatively large spatial units; here we use highly resolved units from Melbourne, Australia (Statistical Area level 1 [SA1] units: mean land area=0.5 km(2); SD=2.2km(2)), in order to assess different micro-scale spatial relationships for on- and off-premise outlets.

METHODS: Bayesian conditional autoregressive Poisson models were used to assess cross-sectional relationships of three-year counts of alcohol-related crashes (2010-2012) attended by Ambulance Victoria paramedics to densities of bars, restaurants, and off-premise outlets controlling for other land use, demographic and roadway characteristics.

RESULTS: Alcohol-related crashes were not related to bar density within local SA1 units, but were positively related to bar density in adjacent SA1 units. Alcohol-related crashes were negatively related to off-premise outlet density in local SA1 units.

CONCLUSIONS: Examined in one metropolitan area using small spatial units, bar density is related to greater crash risk in surrounding areas. Observed negative relationships for off-premise outlets may be because the origins and destinations of alcohol-affected journeys are in distal locations relative to outlets.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en