Abstract: Alcohol-related problems affect many communities. As a result, many neighborhood associations are working to place controls on alcohol use and problems throughout the neighborhoods they represent. Associations that are addressing alcohol-related issues may be important allies for public health professionals attempting to reduce problems related to alcohol. We surveyed 84 neighborhood associations throughout a major metropolitan area to determine: (1) how many associations are addressing alcohol-related issues through political activity (e.g., contacting city council members), (2) what types of alcohol-related issues neighborhood associations have addressed in the past (e.g., fights at bars), and (3) whether the associations planned to address alcohol-related issues in the next year. We also assessed whether socioeconomic status (SES) of neighborhoods and density of alcohol establishments within neighborhoods were associated with likelihood of working on alcohol-related issues. Forty-nine percent of the associations had addressed alcohol problems through political actions. Eighty-one percent had addressed an alcohol-related issue in some way during the previous three years. Few neighborhood associations reported being “very likely” to work on alcohol-related problems in the coming year. Neighborhood associations representing lower SES neighborhoods were more likely to work on alcohol-related issues than associations representing higher SES neighborhoods. Density of alcohol establishments was not related to working on alcohol-related issues. Results of this study will be presented along with recommendations for involving neighborhood associations in the alcohol control movement.
Learning Objectives: Following this presentation, participants will be able to describe types of alcohol-related issues addressed by neighborhood associations. Additionally, participants will be able to describe different types of political strategies associations use to address alcohol-related issues
Keywords: Alcohol, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.