Ecological associations of alcohol outlet density with drunk driving and underage drinking between latinos and whites in los angeles county (LAC)

Research examining the ecological associations of alcohol outlet density with a variety of health problems among Latinos is sparse. This study examines the impact of alcohol outlet density on drunk driving and underage drinking among Latinos and compares them to Whites' in LAC. Data from 2011 LAC Sheriff's Crime Statistics, 2011 California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), and 2010 Census Bureau were analyzed by LAC eight service planning areas (SPA). Analyses were based on active off-premise alcohol outlet data in LAC as of September, 2011. Analyses showed a total of 6,235 off-sale alcohol outlets in LAC as of September 2011. About 4.7 million Latinos and 2.7 million Whites live in LAC. Latinos comprise the majority of the population in SPA 7 (73%), SPA 6 (67%), and SPA 4 (52%) while Whites comprise the majority of the population in SPA 5 (62%). Compared to Whites, alcohol outlet density (per 10,000 pop.) was significantly higher among Latinos for all SPAs, except SPA 5. The rate for either underage drinking or drunk driving (per 10,000 pop.) for Latinos was significantly higher than those of Whites for most SPAs, except in SPA 6 and 8. Our results suggest that LAC communities with higher alcohol outlet density are more likely to see drunk driving and underage drinking, particularly where Latinos live. Involving the community in the regulatory process for the issuance of both new and the renewal of off-premise alcoholic beverage retailer licenses will help address alcohol-related health exposure disparities across ethnic/racial groups in LAC.