The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70585

Rhonda J. Jones-Webb, DrPH¹, Alex Wagenaar, PhD¹, Samuel Myers, PhD², Sarah Rohde, BA¹, Lan Pham, MA¹, and Peter Hannan, Mstat³. (1) Alcohol Epidemiology Program, University of Minnesota, Division of Epidemiology, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, 612-624-1818, jones@epi.umn.edu, (2) Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 257 Hubert Humphrey Center, Minneapolis, MN 55454, (3) Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015

Implementation of alcohol outlet policies is one of several strategies that city officials use to decrease alcohol availability, crime, and other urban problems. Economic development initiatives that include the infusion of money for job training, job creation and retention, and business development are also used. Economic development activities can complement or hinder local alcohol policy efforts to reduce alcohol availability and crime and such effects must be understood when implementing local alcohol outlet policies.

The purpose of this presentation is to present results from a two-year quasi-experimental study designed to evaluate the effects of the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) Initiative on employment, alcohol outlet density, and homicide. The EZ/EC initiative was a major federal initiative begun in 1993 to revitalize the nation’s most distressed cities. Study hypotheses were that intervention neighborhoods in Oakland and San Francisco would have higher employment, but lower alcohol outlet density and homicide rates compared to comparison neighborhoods in Santa Ana. The presentation will present key findings from the outcomes of the evaluation.

Results from this study will have important implications for the planning, implementation, and coordination of economic development activities and local alcohol policies. Results will further: (1) understanding of how economic development policies may complement or hinder implementation of local alcohol outlet policies in inner-city communities; (2) discussion about alternatives to alcohol outlets in inner-city communities, and (3) the development of conceptual models to guide interdisciplinary approaches to alcohol policy research.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to (
• identify a conceptual model for understanding the interelationships between alcohol and economic development policy, alcohol outlet density, and homicide; (
• identify appropriate research designs for evaluating the effects of multiple public policies, and (3)discuss how alcohol and economic development policies can complement one another.

Keywords: Alcohol, Homicide

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.