Liquor outlet density
A rapid review of the evidence on alcohol use and harms
About this review
Conducted between September 2025 and April 2026, this rapid review synthesised 51 studies examining the relationship between liquor outlet density and alcohol consumption and related harms over time across Australia and comparable jurisdictions.
Key messages
- Higher alcohol outlet density is linked to increased alcohol use and dependence, and alcohol-related harms, particularly violent crime.
- Impacts vary by outlet type, with on-premise outlets more consistently linked to violent and assaultive crime and off-premise outlets to adolescent alcohol use and gender-based family violences.
- Evidence for health outcomes is mixed but generally indicates increased harm with greater outlet density.
- Evidence for road safety and some crime outcomes is mixed, reflecting broader spatial and contextual factors.