Research & Resources

The number of alcohol stores and retailers in a certain area, referred to as outlet density, is a risk factor for alcohol use and its consequences, including violent crime. Researchers wanted to examine the different methods to measure outlet density and give examples of how to use each measurement method. The paper reviews container-based, distance-based, and spatial access-based methods and provides insights for each method. The paper “Measuring Alcohol Outlet Density: An Overview of Strategies for Public Health Practitioners” was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.