Geographic Availability of Alcohol in Residential Neighborhoods and Changes in Rates of Child Abuse and Neglect
Publication Date
11-10-2025
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
International Journal on Child Maltreatment Research Policy and Practice
DOI
10.1007/s42448-025-00246-y
Abstract
We assess the relationship between geographic availability of different types of alcohol (i.e., bars, restaurants, and off-premise alcohol outlets) and child maltreatment within a residential neighborhood and in surrounding neighborhood areas over a 15-year period. A better understanding of how specific types of alcohol outlets are associated with child maltreatment, over a longer time-period, could help inform more targeted interventions for specific neighborhoods that differ by the alcohol outlet environment. We conducted an ecological longitudinal study from 2001 to 2015 in Sacramento County, California using 912 Census block groups over a 15-year period. Child abuse and neglect was measured by substantiations, entries into foster care, and alcohol-related entries into foster care. Alcohol outlet data were obtain from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control by type of establishment (bar, restaurant, off-premise alcohol outlet). Data were analyzed using Bayesian conditionally autoregressive space-time models. Bars were positively related to all outcomes in local areas and in adjacent areas for substantiations. Restaurants were related to substantiations and foster care entries in local areas. Off premise outlets were related to foster care entries in adjacent areas and both total and alcohol-related foster care entries in adjacent areas. The type of outlet differed across outcomes. The increase in individuals drinking alcohol at less expensive eateries might be a reason for the current findings. Availability theory would suggest that increased physical availability of alcohol leads to more alcohol which leads to more negative child welfare outcomes.
Funding Sponsor
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Keywords
Alcohol environment, Alcohol outlets, Alcohol-related foster care entries, Bars, Bayesian space-time models, Child abuse and neglect, Foster care entries
Department
Social Work
Recommended Citation
Bridget Freisthler, Holly Thurston, Joselyn Sarabia, and Jennifer Price Wolf. "Geographic Availability of Alcohol in Residential Neighborhoods and Changes in Rates of Child Abuse and Neglect" International Journal on Child Maltreatment Research Policy and Practice (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42448-025-00246-y
