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Surveying Alcohol Outlet Density in Four Neighborhoods of Beirut Lebanon: Implications for Future Research and National Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Rima Nakkash

    (Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon)

  • Lilian A. Ghandour

    (Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon)

  • Sirine Anouti

    (Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon)

  • Jessika Nicolas

    (Department of Geology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon)

  • Ali Chalak

    (Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon)

  • Nasser Yassin

    (Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon)

  • Rima Afifi

    (Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
    Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA)

Abstract

Underage drinking among youth in Lebanon is increasing. Regulating availability is one of the best buy policies recommended by the World Health Organization. To quantitatively document the current status of alcohol availability to youth in Lebanon, we used GPS technology to survey alcohol outlet density in four highly populated neighborhoods in Beirut, Lebanon, and to estimate their proximity to educational institutions. The density of alcohol outlets ranged from 18.30 to 80.95 per km 2 (average of 39.6 alcohol outlets/km 2 ). The highest number of total alcohol outlets was in the “Hamra & Jamiaa” area, which includes one of the largest private universities in the country. Thirteen out of 109 (12%) alcohol outlets (on and off-premise) were located less 100 m away from educational institutions, in violation of the current licensing law. None of the off-premise and the majority (94%) of on-premise alcohol outlets displayed the “no sale for <18” sign. Findings were indicative of an environment conducive to increased access and availability of alcohol among youth in Lebanon probably attributed to the prevailing weak alcohol policies and their enforcement. Systematic collection and reporting of alcohol outlet densities is critical to understand the alcogenic environment and guide local harm reduction policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Rima Nakkash & Lilian A. Ghandour & Sirine Anouti & Jessika Nicolas & Ali Chalak & Nasser Yassin & Rima Afifi, 2018. "Surveying Alcohol Outlet Density in Four Neighborhoods of Beirut Lebanon: Implications for Future Research and National Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:2006-:d:169791
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahern, J. & Margerison-Zilko, C. & Hubbard, A. & Galea, S., 2013. "Alcohol outlets and binge drinking in urban neighborhoods: The implications of nonlinearity for intervention and policy," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(4), pages 81-87.
    2. David E. Bloom & Dan Chisholm & Eva Jane-Llopis & Klaus Prettner & Adam Stein & Andrea Feigl, 2011. "From Burden to "Best Buys": Reducing the Economic Impact of Non-Communicable Disease in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," PGDA Working Papers 7511, Program on the Global Demography of Aging.
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    1. Andrea Pastor & Xisca Sureda & Roberto Valiente & Hannah Badland & Macarena García-Dorado & Francisco Escobar, 2022. "Using Geovisualization Tools to Examine Attitudes towards Alcohol Exposure in Urban Environments: A Pilot Study in Madrid, Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.

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