Neighborhood Alcohol Outlet Density, Historical Redlining, and Violent Crime in NYC 2014–2018

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.