Local alcohol availability and community harms
Community Alcohol Sales and Related Problems: Filling the Critical Research Gap
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RES AND EVALUATION · NIH-11243521
This project looks at how the number and features of nearby alcohol sellers relate to alcohol sales and harms in communities.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RES AND EVALUATION (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BELTSVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11243521 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will gather local alcohol sales records and map retail outlets to compare neighborhoods with different numbers and types of alcohol sellers. They will link local sales data to measures of alcohol-related problems (like injuries, assaults, or crashes) while separating sales effects from other outlet-related activities such as crowding or drink specials. The team will use community-level analyses to pinpoint which outlet characteristics drive sales versus which drive harms. Results are intended to help communities choose local policies that reduce alcohol-related problems without relying only on statewide data.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Residents, local health officials, or community organizations in U.S. neighborhoods—especially those with many alcohol retailers—are the most relevant groups to contribute local sales or harm data.
Not a fit: People living in areas with few or no retail alcohol outlets or whose alcohol harms primarily occur in private, non-retail settings may not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help local policymakers change outlet rules and reduce alcohol-related injuries, crashes, and other harms in communities.
How similar studies have performed: State-level studies have linked greater alcohol availability to more problems, but using detailed local sales data to separate sales effects from other outlet-related risks is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
BELTSVILLE, UNITED STATES
- PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RES AND EVALUATION — BELTSVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GRUENEWALD, PAUL J — PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RES AND EVALUATION
- Study coordinator: GRUENEWALD, PAUL J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.