One of the most effective approaches for reducing excessive drinking and its many health and social consequences is to limit the physical availability of alcohol. One approach to doing so is regulating alcohol outlet density, or the concentration of retail alcohol establishments, including bars and restaurants and liquor or package stores, in a given geographic area. A high concentration of alcohol outlets leads to a variety of serious health and social consequences, including violence,
alcohol-impaired driving, neighborhood disruption, and public nuisance activities. Fortunately, there are strategies proven to work to regulate the number of places that sell or serve alcohol, and many states
and communities across the country are mobilizing to address this public health issue. This Action Guide provides public health departments, community coalitions, and other organizations with an
introduction to the health and social problems associated with alcohol outlet density and an overview of available evidence-based community prevention strategies for addressing this environmental risk
factor