Development and applications of a city-level alcohol availability and alcohol problems database.

Data on alcohol availability and problems in all cities in Los Angeles County were collected from several different sources and linked together to form a Local Alcohol Availability Database (LAAD). The two major purposes of the project are to provide a city-level alcohol availability and alcohol-related problems database needed by local community alcohol policy planners and to collect the data necessary for research on the relationship between these measures. The prevalence of drunk driving arrests is displayed on a map. We describe how the LAAD has been used to guide alcohol policy decisions. A fixed year and city effects regression model suggests that outlet density is positively related to several alcohol-related problems.