A Spatial Analysis of Alcohol Outlet Density and Assaults

This study explored the association between alcohol outlets and assaults in Cincinnati neighborhoods. Using the block group as the unit of analysis, we collected information on the location of alcohol outlets, spatially enabled data on violent crimes reported to the police, and several social structural control variables. We employed spatial analytical methods to test for an association between alcohol outlet density and levels of assault. We examined multiple theoretical questions (e.g., does type of alcohol outlet – bars, restaurants, liquor stores – matter?), as well as the impact of methodological decisions (e.g., the use of Euclidian versus network distances) on our results.