Restricting Malt Liquor Sales: What Works

Objectives. Our study investigates what cities are doing to restrict malt liquor sales, and why some cities are successful in adopting policies to restrict malt liquor and other cities are unsuccessful. Malt liquor is a lager beer with a higher alcohol content than regular beer.

Methods. We conducted 30-minute telephone interviews with local policy officials and law enforcement staff in the 100 largest U.S. cities in 2008. Two interviews were conducted per city. The major outcome of interest was whether there was a verified local policy to restrict malt liquor. Key predictors included local authority to set policy, the priority given to restricting malt liquor sales among local leaders, perceived seriousness of malt liquor problems, and the number of problems associated with malt liquor. Policies were verified using legal research and data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

Results. Since 1995, a number of cities (n=30) have adopted policies to restrict malt liquor sales. The odds of having a policy to restrict malt liquor sales were higher for cities that perceived more local control over alcohol policy-making (OR=6.6), higher for cities where restricting malt liquor sales was a priority among local leaders (OR=3.1, and higher in the west and midwest(OR=1.0).

Conclusion. Cities that perceive they have greater control over alcohol policy making are most likely to adopt policies to restrict malt liquor sales. Changing the perceptions of policy officials regarding local authority over alcohol policy may be an important first step in adopting policies to restrict malt liquor.