Reducing the density of alcohol retail outlets is an evidence-based strategy to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and related harms. Alcohol outlet density refers to the number of retail alcohol outlets (e.g., bars or liquor stores) per geographic area. Reducing the density of alcohol outlets both decreases the availability of alcohol and lessens opportunities for drinkers to interact with one another. This in turn reduces excessive alcohol consumption and related harms, including violence and public nuisance activities.45 The following is a list of online resources that provide additional information on reducing outlet density, including research and recommendations, statistics on excessive alcohol use, information on the privatization of alcohol sales, and legal analysis of state laws local authority to regulate alcohol outlet density
Local Alcohol Outlet Density Regulation
CDC’s 2013 Prevention Status Reports: Alcohol-Related Harms (because local authority to regulate alcohol outlet density is not included in the 2015 PSRs, the link is to the 2013 PSRs).
Community Preventive Services Task Force Systematic Review and Recommendation
Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking (prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources)
Legal Analysis of State Laws on Local Authority to Regulate Alcohol Retail Outlets (abstract only)
Strategizer 55: Regulating Alcohol Outlet Density
Privatization of Retail Sales
Community Preventive Services Task Force Systematic Review and Recommendation