MINNEAPOLIS, April 7, 2008—Living in a poor African American neighborhood means greater alcohol availability and promotion, according to a recent study by University of Minnesota researchers. Especially malt liquor.

The study found that poor neighborhoods with high concentrations of African Americans had higher homicide rates and significantly greater numbers of off-premise alcohol outlets, 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor in coolers, and storefront ads promoting malt liquor than other neighborhoods.

Researchers also found that the average price of a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor was $1.87—less than a gallon of milk.

Malt liquor is a concern in inner cities because of its cheap price, high alcohol content, association with heavier drinking, and its link to aggressive behavior that can result in public safety issues, said Rhonda Jones-Webb, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study.

The cheap price of malt liquor also makes it especially available to youth, she added.

The findings were published in a recent issue of the Journal of Substance Use and Misuse.

"We need to ask ourselves why high alcohol content beverages, such as malt liquor, are more readily available and highly promoted in poor and minority neighborhoods, and how we can mobilize communities to implement effective policies to restrict their sale and promotion," Jones-Webb said.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.