Two additional studies found alcohol use linked to overall outlet density; in one study (of on- and off-premises outlet density) this was only significant for heavy drinking (Truong and Sturm, 2009), in the other only with total quantity consumed (Huckle et al., 2008).
There are four major on-premise outlet types in Philadelphia: clubs (5.9%), distributors (5.6%), eating places (6.5%), and restaurants and bars (75%).
Three studies looked at the relationship between off-premise outlet density and alcohol use, two found associations with both drinking and heavy drinking (Chen et al., 2010; Rootman and Oakey, 1973) and one found no association (Kuntsche et al., 2008).
The tenth study, using the same Californian dataset, found that changes in bar and off-premise outlet densities were positively related, and restaurant densities negatively related, to attempted and completed suicide rates [ 34].
► Proximity and density of on-premises outlets is unrelated to adolescent alcohol use.
Proximity and density of on-premise outlets were not associated with weekly drinking.
Finally, one previously mentioned study found an association between density of on-premises outlets and drinking, but not heavy drinking (Kuntsche et al., 2008).
In contrast, proximity and outlet density of on-premise outlets (i.e. local pubs or clubs) was unrelated to adolescent alcohol use, nor was off-sales outlet density measured at the very immediate neighbourhood level (data zone).
However, adolescents living close (within 200 m) to an off-sales outlet were more likely to drink frequently (OR 1.97, p=0.004), as were adolescents living in areas with many nearby off-premises outlets (OR 1.60, p=0.016).
The lack of association between the availability of on-premise drinking venues and adolescent alcohol use may be due to the greater price per unit of alcohol and stringent enforcement of age-restrictions associated with on-premise outlets.
Liquor licensing information from alcohol-control boards commonly is used to generate indicators of commercial availability namely, number of outlets/population rates and concentration of on- and off-premise outlets (Sherman et al. 1996; see also Gruenewald et al. 1997).
