Robert J. Reid, PhD¹, N. Andrew Peterson, PhD², and Lynn A. Agre, MPH¹. (1) School of Social Work, Rutgers University, 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1167, 732.932.5067, rjreid@rci.rutgers.edu, (2) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa - College of Public Health, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242

In the established link between alcohol consumption and crime, scant attention has focused on whether alcohol availability (density of outlets) influences assaultive violence. Our study extends the investigation of this critical public health question by asking whether the density of liquor outlets is a salient predictor of assaultive violence in a Midwestern urban city. This study assessed the geographic association between rates of assaultive violence and alcohol density in Kansas City, Missouri. Secondary data were examined for sociodemographic factors, alcohol outlet density and rates of assaultive violence across 89 inner city census tracts. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that sociodemographic variables predicted 61%(R2=.61) of the variance in assaultive violence, but that an additional 9% (R2=.09) of the variability in assaultive violence was explained by the density of alcohol outlets. Alcohol outlet density contributed significantly to the explained variance of the regression model and was associated with higher rates of assaultive violence in this Midwestern urban city. Findings were further elucidated by a chloropleth map, which provided a graphical representation of the areal dispersions for the rates of assaultive violence and the density of alcohol outlets. In accordance with the National Center for Health Statistics Healthy People 2010 Initiatives, the relationship between alcohol and violence has been identified as a public health priority. This study adds to the importance of making liquor outlet density in cities, at a geography approximating the census tract, a key feature in the public health policy domain.

Learning Objectives:

• The application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be used to demonstrate the link between assaulitive violence and alcohol outlet density.
• Participants in this session will examine how socio-demographic census data were used to predict rates of assaultive violence, with particular emphasis on the contribution of alcohol-outlet density in relation to this critical public health issue.
• The policy implications of the alcohol outlet-crime relationship will be discussed within the broader context of interactive community processes.
• Participants will explore how the geographic association between assaultive violence and alcohol-outlet density can be generalized to other urban communities throughout the U.S.

Keywords: Alcohol, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.