Neighborhood alcohol availability was assessed based on ZIP code density per square mile of liquor stores and convenience stores that sell alcohol (range: 0–76, with the highest values representative of highly urban areas included in the national sample) (Ahern et al., 2015, Ahern et al., 2016, Ahern et al., 2013). Businesses were identified from the US Census Bureau’s national ZIP Code Business Patterns data for 2000, 2005 and 2010. Store classification was based on state laws, using published information on the types of stores allowed to sell beer, wine or spirits at the time of data collection (The Beverage Information Group, 2011a, The Beverage Information Group, 2011b, The Beverage Information Group, 2010, National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, 2010). These national data correspond well with official state licensure records (Matthews, McCarthy, & Rafail, 2011). Access to alcohol through off-premise outlets is associated with binge drinking (Ahern et al., 2016, Ahern et al., 2013) and AUD (Ahern, Balzer, & Galea, 2015).
