Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Publisher

SAGE

Source Publication

Journal of Drug Issues

Source ISSN

0022-0426

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1177/00220426241277769

Abstract

Firearm violence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young men in the US. While an association of alcohol availability with violence is well established, the mechanisms through which it operates are unclear, and the role of alcohol availability in firearm violence specifically is less often studied. In this study we examined the effects of off-premises alcohol outlet characteristics on firearm violence in their immediate environs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Firearm violence was 1.5–3 times higher in areas near off-premises retail alcohol outlets, with levels on the higher end of the range when outlets possessed certain characteristics, specifically graffiti, greater foot traffic, loitering, or younger clientele. Examining alcohol outlet characteristics provides insight into mechanisms driving the alcohol-violence association and may aid in harm reduction.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Drug Issues, 2024. Online before print. DOI. © 2024 SAGE Publications. Used with permission.

Available for download on Friday, January 01, 2027

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