More Booze, More Brawls

Researchers who studied crime stats and alcohol licensing data from Cincinnati have discovered the more bars, restaurants and other alcohol sales sites in a neighborhood, the higher the level of violence. The Indiana University study also found an association between high assault rates and stores that sell alcohol. Liquor stores “appear to be associated with about 25% of simple assaults and about one-third of aggravated assaults,” researchers said. Broken down, one store that sells liquor per square mile creates 2.3 more simple assaults and 0.6 more aggravated assaults per square mile. Adding one bar per square mile would lead to 1.35 more simple assaults, while adding one restaurant per square mile that sells alcohol would lead to 1.15 more simple assaults.