The Density of Alcohol Outlets and Its Relationship with Adolescent Consumption, Parental Supply and Adolescent Purchasing: A Study of Australian Children

Introduction: Prior research has reported associations between alcohol sales outlet density and adolescent alcohol use.  There is some evidence that adolescent consumption related to the density of alcohol outlets.  However, it is unclear to what extent this association arises from changes in parent behaviour, or adolescents purchasing behaviour.  Studies indicate that a substantial proportion of adolescents are supplied alcohol by their parents, some purchase alcohol for themselves, and others get other adults to purchase alcohol for them.  The present study examined whether in fact, increased density of outlets is associated with increased consumption, the parental supply of alcohol, and reported purchasing of alcohol. 

Methods: A state-representative student survey (N = 10,143) in Victoria, Australia identified the density of alcohol outlets within a geographic area and multilevel modelling was then used to predict adolescent consumption, parental supply and adolescent purchasing of alcohol.

Results: Density was found to be a predictor of adolescent consumption, however, the strength of this association varied by age.  Density of alcohol outlets and parental supply was found to interact with parents’ country of birth.  Children with both Australian born parents were 2.57 times more likely to be supplied alcohol as packaged density increased (venues that sell alcohol in packages to be consumed off-premise).  As on-premise density increased, adolescents whose parents were both migrants, had a 1.41 increase in risk of being supplied alcohol, and a 1.52 increase in risk of being supplied alcohol as club density increased, compared to children who had parents that were both Australian born.  Similarly, increased the risk of adolescent purchasing of alcohol by 36% as the density of sales outlet per 10,000 population significantly increased.

Discussion: Reducing or limiting the density of alcohol outlets may be one method of influencing population rates of alcohol use and related problems.