Effects of Policies to Restrict Malt Liquor Sales on Neighborhood Crime

Abstract

We examined the effectiveness of malt liquor sales restrictions adopted in 2005 in three liquor stores in a large Midwestern U.S. city. We hypothesized that the restrictions would be associated with crime reductions in adjacent neighborhoods. Using Poisson regression modeling, we compared crime rates two years prior to, and two years following policy adoption. Findings were mixed; malt liquor restrictions were associated with reductions in disorderly conduct citations, but increases in larceny/theft, beyond citywide trends. Limitations and implications of our study are discussed, and further research suggested. The study was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RÉSUMÉ

Effets des politiques pour limiter des ventes de boisson alcoolisée de malt sur le crime de voisinage

Nous avons examiné l'efficacité des restrictions de ventes de boisson alcoolisée de malt adoptées dans 3 magasins de vins et de spiritueux aux grands États-Unis du milieu du middle-ouest ville en 2005. Nous avons présumé que les restrictions seraient associées aux réductions de crime des voisinages adjacents. En utilisant la régression de Poisson modelant, nous avons comparé des taux de crime deux ans avant, et deux ans adoption suivant politique. Des résultats ont été mélangés; des restrictions de boisson alcoolisée de malt ont été associées aux réductions des citations de conduite désordonnée, mais augmentent dans le vol/vol, au delà des tendances partout dans la ville. Des limitations et les implications de notre étude sont discutées, et davantage de recherche sont suggérées. L’étude a été placée par les États-Unis Centres pour la commande et l'empêchement de maladie.

Mots clés: boisson alcoolisée de malt; bière; alcool; ventes simples; politique locale; crime.

RESUMEN

Efectos de las políticas para restringir ventas del licor de malta en crimen de la vecindad

Abbiamo esaminato l'efficacia delle limitazioni di vendite del liquore di malto adottate in 3 depositi di liquore nei grandi Stati Uniti Midwestern città in 2005. Abbiamo supposto che le limitazioni fossero associate con le riduzioni di crimine di vicinanze adiacenti. Usando la regressione del Poisson che modella, abbiamo confrontato i tassi di crimine due anni prima di e due anni che seguono approvazione di politica. I risultati sono stati mescolati; le limitazioni del liquore di malto sono state associate con le riduzioni delle citazioni di comportamento disordinato, ma aumenta di larceny/furto, oltre le tendenze citywide. Le limitazioni e le implicazioni del nostro studio sono discusse ed ulteriore ricerca è suggerita. Lo studio è stato costituito un fondo per dagli Stati Uniti Centri per controllo e la prevenzione di malattia.

Parole chiave: liquore di malto; birra; alcool; singole vendite; politica locale; crimine.

Keywords:

• malt liquor
• beer
• alcohol
• single sales
• local policy
• crime

THE AUTHORS

Elizabeth Barajas, M.P.H., was a Research Assistant on the Restricting Malt Liquor Beverage study at the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Her research interests include alcohol and violence.

Patricia McKee, M.A., is a Study Coordinator in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Her research interests include alcohol policy research and environmental influences on eating and exercise behaviors.

Peter J. Hannan, M.Stat., is a Statistical Analyst in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. His major research interest is in the design and analysis of group randomized trials (GRTs). More recent research interests are Bayesian statistics and the Bayesian analysis of GRTs. The application areas are mainly in nutrition and physical activity, and other behaviors, with their impact on youth.

Toben F. Nelson, Sc.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. His research interests include health policy, organization change, health behavior during developmental transitions, influence of sports participation on health, social determinants of health, program evaluation, prevention of alcohol—attributable harm, physical activity promotion, obesity prevention, and motor vehicle safety.

Rhonda Jones-Webb, Dr.P.H., is an Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Her research interests include alcohol epidemiology and policy with a special emphasis on race and social class issues, policy as a prevention strategy, and minority health issues.

Notes

1 The parameter estimates are not sensitive to the choices of lag/ramp combinations selected by the minimum of the quasi-independence criterion for a particular outcome; thus, they should not be used for planning purposes. For example, in these data, the best fit for burglary was a lag of two months; this should not be interpreted so as to expect no effect of the policy on burglary in the first two months following policy adoption.