CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Preventing Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Maintaining Limits on Hours of Sale
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
One strategy to prevent excessive alcohol consumption and related harms is to limit access by regulating the hours during which alcohol can legally be sold. Approaches may include:
• Maintaining existing limits in response to efforts to expand hours of sale
• Expanding current limits on hours of sale
Policies limiting hours of sale may apply to outlets that sell alcohol for consumption at the place of purchase (on-premises outlets, such as bars or restaurants) or elsewhere (off-premises outlets, such as liquor stores). In the United States, policies may be made at the state level and, where not prohibited, by state pre-emption laws at local levels.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends maintaining limits on hours of alcohol sale in on-premises settings, based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms.
Two separate analyses were conducted to determine if an increase in hours of sale in on-premises outlets was associated with an increase in alcohol-related harms:
• Sufficient evidence was found for increasing hours sales by two or more hours
• Insufficient evidence was found for increasing sales by less than two hours
• Maintaining existing limits in response to efforts to expand hours of sale
• Expanding current limits on hours of sale
Policies limiting hours of sale may apply to outlets that sell alcohol for consumption at the place of purchase (on-premises outlets, such as bars or restaurants) or elsewhere (off-premises outlets, such as liquor stores). In the United States, policies may be made at the state level and, where not prohibited, by state pre-emption laws at local levels.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends maintaining limits on hours of alcohol sale in on-premises settings, based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms.
Two separate analyses were conducted to determine if an increase in hours of sale in on-premises outlets was associated with an increase in alcohol-related harms:
• Sufficient evidence was found for increasing hours sales by two or more hours
• Insufficient evidence was found for increasing sales by less than two hours
Impact
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends limiting access to alcohol by regulating the hours it can be sold as they found that increasing the hours available for alcohol sale can result in an increase in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
Results / Accomplishments
Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Increasing hours of sale by two or more hours in on-premises settings (e.g., bars and restaurants):
• Ten studies qualified for the review. These studies reported on six events that changed the hours of alcohol sales by two or more hours.
• Studies were conducted in Australia (6 studies of 4 events), England (3 studies of 1 event), and Iceland (1 study of 1 event).
• Extending hours of sale by 2 to 4 hours was associated with:
-An increase in alcohol consumption (1 study, Australia)
-A relative increase in motor vehicle crash injuries ranging from 4% to 11% (2 studies, Australia)
-A shift in timing of motor vehicle crashes corresponding to the change in closing time of the outlet (1 study, Australia)
• Removing restrictions on hours of sale, i.e., allowing sales of alcohol 24 hours a day or allowing outlets to stay open to any hour, was associated with:
-An increase in motor vehicle crash injuries (1 study, Australia)
-An increase in emergency room admissions, injuries, fighting, and suspected driving while intoxicated (1 study, Iceland)
-An increase in alcohol-related assault and injury (1 study, England)
-A decrease in violent crime offenses (1 study, England)
-A decrease in maxillofacial trauma (1 study, England)
Increasing hours of sale by two or more hours in on-premises settings (e.g., bars and restaurants):
• Ten studies qualified for the review. These studies reported on six events that changed the hours of alcohol sales by two or more hours.
• Studies were conducted in Australia (6 studies of 4 events), England (3 studies of 1 event), and Iceland (1 study of 1 event).
• Extending hours of sale by 2 to 4 hours was associated with:
-An increase in alcohol consumption (1 study, Australia)
-A relative increase in motor vehicle crash injuries ranging from 4% to 11% (2 studies, Australia)
-A shift in timing of motor vehicle crashes corresponding to the change in closing time of the outlet (1 study, Australia)
• Removing restrictions on hours of sale, i.e., allowing sales of alcohol 24 hours a day or allowing outlets to stay open to any hour, was associated with:
-An increase in motor vehicle crash injuries (1 study, Australia)
-An increase in emergency room admissions, injuries, fighting, and suspected driving while intoxicated (1 study, Iceland)
-An increase in alcohol-related assault and injury (1 study, England)
-A decrease in violent crime offenses (1 study, England)
-A decrease in maxillofacial trauma (1 study, England)
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
404-498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/alcohol...
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
404-498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/alcohol...
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Community / Governance
Community / Governance
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults