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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Tami L. Gouveia-Vigeant, MSW, MPH, Northeast Center for Healthy Communities, 101 Amesbury Street, Suite 405, Lawrence, MA 01840, 978-688-2323 x517, tgouveia-vigeant@glfhc.org

Massachusetts law dictates the maximum number of alcohol licenses allowed within a given city or town. Several researchers have studied associations between the distribution of liquor outlets and community-level population characteristics. Also noted in the literature are the benefits of using triangulation to examine questions of a sociological nature. The purpose of this study was to use triangulation to explore associations between socio-demographic characteristics (socio-economic position, educational status, race and ethnicity, employment status, etc.) and the distribution of establishments licensed to sell alcohol at the census tract level in 10 Massachusetts communities. Results were mapped using GIS. Photographs of the physical environment in each census tract were taken and integrated with quantitative data. This presentation will focus on: a) the methods used to conduct the analysis; b) the photographs taken of the physical environment in each census tract; c) the maps created which demonstrate the relationships between alcohol licensing, the physical environment, and socio-demographic characteristics at the census tract level. The presentation will conclude with a brief discussion of policy implications of the study undertaken.

At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Discuss the benefits of using triangulation to study alcohol licensing practices and community-level characteristics and the physical environment at the census tract level; 2. Describe the methods of integrating alcohol licensing data, photographs, and mapping with GIS; 3. Discuss the policy implications of licensing practices and the relationship to socio-demographic characteristics and physical environments at the census tract level.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to

• Identify the benefits of using triangulation to study associations between alcohol licensing practices, community-level characteristics and the physical environment at the census tract level.
• Identify and describe the methods of integrating socio-demographic data, alcohol licensing data, photographs, and mapping with GIS.
• Discuss the policy implications of licensing practices and the relationship to socio-demographic characteristics and physical environment at the census tract level.

Keywords: Alcohol, Social Inequalities

Related Web page: www.nc4hc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered