July 16, 2003
Olympia - The Liquor Control Board signed a resolution today regarding an evaluation of the effectiveness of the state’s Alcohol Impact Area (AIA) rules.
The resolution follows a study of the state’s first AIA in the Tacoma downtown core area. Dr. John Tarnai, Director of Washington State University’s Social & Economic Sciences Research Center, conducted the study.
The Board held a public work session June 17 in Tacoma to hear the findings of the study. According to Dr. Tarnai, study results suggest that the AIA restrictions have been effective in addressing problems of chronic public inebriation. Several key indicators of positive change within the AIA were:
- A 35% decrease in emergency medical service incidents.
- A 21% decrease in admissions to the local detoxification center.
- A 61% decrease in “liquor in the park” police service calls.
- Fewer chronic public inebriates and the problems associated with chronic public inebriation.
- Reduced intoxication among chronic public inebriates.
- Less trash and litter.
- Community residents indicated they feel safer and better about their neighborhood.
Since the June 17 work session, the Board has carefully reviewed the study results, public comments and questions, and responses to questions about the study by Dr. Tarnai.
“We believe this study shows that the AIA rules have been effective in achieving their overall goal, which is to help community’s mitigate the negative impacts of chronic public inebriation, “ said Merritt Long, Chairman of the Liquor Control Board. “We see no reason to make changes to the rules at this time.”
The Board will use the information obtained in the study as a tool to review future AIA request. The agency expects to make a decision next week on a request from the city of Seattle for an AIA in the Pioneer Square area.
BACKGROUND
The AIA rules were written in 1999 to create a framework for communities, the Liquor Control Board, and the alcohol industry to work together to mitigate communities’ problems with chronic public inebriation or illegal activities linked to the sale or consumption of alcohol.
The rules allow the Liquor Control Board to recognize a geographic area within a city or town as an AIA. This designation means:
- Local jurisdictions are given more time to review liquor license applications and renewals for businesses inside an AIA.
- The local jurisdiction may also request that the Liquor Control Board restrict grocery and convenience stores in an AIA from selling certain types of beers and wines that are linked to local chronic public inebriation problems (such as high-alcohol content, low-cost products), or restrict the hours that retailers can sell alcohol to-go.
The AIA rules state that the Liquor Control Board will study the effectiveness of the rules one year after the Board’s recognition of the first AIA. Approved in December 2001, the Tacoma downtown core is the only Liquor Control Board recognized AIA in the state.
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