The spatial effect of alcohol availability on violence: a geographically weighted regression analysis

Using open-source police and alcohol outlet data, the study illustrates how associations between varying alcohol outlet types and violent crime vary across small areas in England, using geographically weighted regression. The study also aimed to determine the effect of high sales outlets on violent crime, a novel contribution to our study. The results found that the association between alcohol availability and violent crime varies spatially, for example high sales clubs were associated with violent crime in inner-city contexts and less so elsewhere. From this, licensing boards can target areas where alcohol availability is an issue, to reduce risk of violence at the small area level.