Neighborhood characteristics contribute to urban alcohol availability: Accounting for race/ethnicity and social disorganization

ABSTRACT

This study examined the role that race/ethnicity and social disorganization play in alcohol availability in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, census block groups. This study estimated negative binomial regression models to examine separately the relationship between neighborhood racial/ethnic composition and social disorganization levels for (1) total, (2) on-premise, and (3) off-premise alcohol outlets. Results of this study suggest that proportion Hispanic was positively associated with total and with off-premise alcohol outlets. Second, proportion African American was negatively associated with on-premise alcohol outlets and positively associated with off-premise alcohol outlets. Proportion Asian was not associated with total, on-premise, or off-premise alcohol outlets. However, the effects of race/ethnicity on alcohol availability were either unrelated or negatively related to alcohol outlet availability once neighborhood social disorganization levels were taken into account, and social disorganization was positively and significantly associated with all alcohol outlet types. Neighborhood characteristics contribute to alcohol availability and must be considered in any efforts aimed toward prevention of alcohol-related negative health and social outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol availability
• alcohol outlets
• ethnicity
• race
• social disorganization

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aleksandra J. Snowden

Aleksandra J. Snowden, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her primary research interests include crime mapping and crime analysis, neighborhood characteristics, alcohol availability, crime and violence, and spatial analytical methods. Her recent publications include articles in Social Science Research, American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Journal of Drug Issues, and Criminal Justice Review.