Other factors influencing alcohol availability are state licensure and tax structures, as well as alcohol advertising. Higher alcohol prices are associated with reductions in heavy drinking and alcohol problems, particularly among adolescents and young adults89. Low-income youth may be especially sensitive to alcohol prices; this may manifest in stronger deterrent impacts of higher alcohol taxes on drinking of racial/ethnic minority youth and adults. Regarding advertising, evidence suggests that youth delay drinking and drink less frequently in areas with more restrictive policies about alcohol marketing90, and some studies also have found greater exposure to alcohol advertising is associated with increased consumption, particularly by youth83. Neighborhoods with a high density of African Americans (which often are economically disadvantaged) are selectively targeted for marketing of high-alcohol content beverages such as malt liquor beer and spirits91,92. Indicators of local alcohol availability, including tax policies and advertisements for alcohol, are good candidates for studies of G–E relationships in racial/ethnic minority populations as they are likely to be exogenous exposures, particularly for youth and young adults.
