Alcohol outlets tend to cluster in lower income neighborhoods and do so disproportionately in areas with more residents of color. This study explores the association between on- and off-premise alcohol outlet density and history of redlining with violent crime in New York City between 2014 and 2018. Alcohol outlet density was calculated using a spatial accessibility index. Multivariable linear regression models assess associations between the history of redlining, on-premise and off-premise alcohol outlet density with serious crime. Each unit increase in on- and off-premise alcohol density was associated with a significant increase in violent crime (β = 3.1, p < 0.001 on-premise and β = 33.5, p < 0.001 off premise). In stratified models (redlined vs not redlined community block groups) the association between off-premise alcohol outlet density and violent crime density was stronger in communities with a history of redlining compared to those without redlining (β = 42.4, p < 0.001 versus β = 30.9, p < 0.001, respectively). However, on-premise alcohol outlet density was only significantly associated with violent crime in communities without a history of redlining (β = 3.6, p < 0.001). The violent crime experienced by formerly redlined communities in New York City is likely related to a legacy of racialized housing policies and may be associated with state policies that allow for high neighborhood alcohol outlet density.
Keywords: alcohol; density; policy; redlining; violent crime.