School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Vic, 3220, Australia.
National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2021 Jun 1;223:108720. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108720. Epub 2021 Apr 12.
Night-time entertainment precincts (NEPs) are clusters of higher-risk on-licence venues, that pose a significant burden on health and social order services. Outlet density and trading hours are two of the most well researched contributors to alcohol availability within NEPs; increases in outlet density and late-night trading hours within NEPs have been independently associated with increased assaults. This is the first study to examine both factors across cities to predict alcohol-related assaults.
Licensing data were used to investigate the effect of outlet density and trading hours on police recorded serious assaults in nine NEPs (9 cross-sectional units) across Queensland from January 2010 to July 2018 at monthly intervals (102 longitudinal units). Multi-level models were used to determine i) whether precinct-level trading hours moderated the relationship between outlet density and serious assaults; and ii) the impact of outlets closing before 12am, 3am, and 5am on serious assaults.
The positive relationship between outlet density and assaults was stronger in precincts with trading hours ending at 5am compared to 3am (IRR = 1.01, p = 0.03). The amount of venues closing before 12am was associated with reduced numbers of assaults (IRR = 0.97, p = 0.04), while venues closing between 12:01am-3am and 3:01am-5am were associated with increased assaults (IRR = 1.02, p<0.01; IRR = 1.01, p = 0.02).
Late night service of alcohol creates more harm in areas of high outlet density, whereas early closing venues in areas where outlet density is low is associated with reduced number of assaults. This relationship should be taken into account in the development of future alcohol policies.
夜间娱乐区（NEP）是高风险持牌场所的聚集地，对健康和社会秩序服务构成了重大负担。出口密度和营业时间是研究最多的两个影响 NEP 内酒精供应的因素；NEP 内出口密度和深夜营业时间的增加与袭击事件的增加独立相关。这是第一项研究在多个城市同时考察这两个因素以预测与酒精相关的袭击事件的研究。
利用许可数据，研究了从 2010 年 1 月至 2018 年 7 月期间，昆士兰州 9 个 NEP（9 个横断面单位）每月间隔（102 个纵向单位）的警察记录的严重袭击事件与出口密度和营业时间之间的关系。使用多水平模型来确定 i）交易时间是否调节了出口密度与严重袭击之间的关系；ii）凌晨 12 点、3 点和 5 点前关闭的出口对严重袭击的影响。
与凌晨 3 点结束营业时间的地区相比，凌晨 5 点结束营业时间的地区，出口密度与袭击之间的正相关关系更强（IRR = 1.01，p = 0.03）。凌晨 12 点前关闭的场所数量与袭击次数减少有关（IRR = 0.97，p = 0.04），而凌晨 12:01 点至 3 点和 3:01 点至 5 点之间关闭的场所与袭击次数增加有关（IRR = 1.02，p < 0.01；IRR = 1.01，p = 0.02）。
深夜供应酒精会在高出口密度地区造成更多伤害，而在出口密度较低的地区，提前关闭的场所与袭击次数减少有关。在制定未来的酒精政策时，应考虑到这种关系。
