Getting Started
Learn How Local Control Works in Your State
States vary in terms of the interplay between state-level control over alcohol sales and distribution (i.e., licensing), and local options for controlling alcohol availability (i.e., land-use policies, local enforcement, etc.). Before establishing a plan for how to use land-use as a tool for addressing alcohol-related problems, it is important to understand the opportunities and limits of local control in your own state.
Key contacts for this information:
1. Your city’s planning department, or your city attorney.
2. Your state’s office of alcohol control (Click here to find the phone number for your state alcohol control board).
3. Association of city and county governments in your state.
Still can’t find the information that you need? Contact the Marin Institute for assistance.
Find Out What Land-Use Policies Already Exist in Your City
What types of zoning ordinances does your city already have in place? There are two general approaches to zoning review for proposed business licenses: active and passive.
- Active zoning: allows for case-by-case review of permit applications. Creates formal opportunities for public input and increases the ability to ensure that proposed land-use reflects local conditions.
- Passive zoning: establishes general requirements for permits (views permit “as a right”). If applicant meets these, permit generally is granted. Requirements might include building heights, distances from similar types of businesses, limits on hours of operation. Cities with passive zoning review offer little opportunity for community review of proposed land uses.
To find out what type of zoning ordinance your city has on the books, speak with staff of your city/county planning department. In most cases, planning department staff can explain the zoning ordinances currently in place and the steps an alcohol retailer would go through in obtaining a permit. If you aren’t able to get the department’s assistance, or would like a separate review of the city’s zoning ordinance, contact the Marin Institute for help.
Determine Preliminary Goals
What do you want to accomplish through new or revised zoning ordinances in your community? It’s important to identify preliminary goals at the start, even if they change as you work with community members to gather data on alcohol problems. Goals might include:
• Limiting the number or concentration of alcohol outlets in specific parts of your city
• Reducing alcohol-related problems, such as underage drinking or alcohol-related violence
• Changing the practices at one or more problem alcohol outlets
• Making businesses that sell alcohol more responsive to community members’ concerns
• Ensuring active public review of business permits sought by alcohol outlets
Identify Allies
In order to influence local policymakers, usually your city council (or county board of supervisors if in an unincorporated part of the county) or planning commission, it is important to demonstrate a broad base of community support. This also helps ensure that your advocacy represents the needs of a diverse cross section of the community. Potential allies include anyone with a stake in community safety, health and quality of life.
List of Potential Allies:
• Community members who live or work in parts of the city directly affected by alcohol-related problems.
• Neighborhood groups
• Nonprofit community-based organizations
• Faith-based organizations
• Law enforcement
• Local office of your state alcohol control agency
• Schools
• Young people
• Local businesses
• City Planning Department staff
• City Council members, planning commissioners and other city officials
• Representatives of the city or county health department
• Hospitals and other health care institutions
One way to organize allies is to create a local alcohol policy coalition. This does not require the formal creation of a new organization, just find members willing to join the coalition, attend meetings and support the coalition’s efforts. Advantages of creating a coalition:
(1) establishes a clear identity for your advocacy efforts, which makes it easier to build visibility and attract public support
(2) positions your group of allies as a community-based coalition not beholden to any single existing organization
(3) establishes a vehicle for ongoing advocacy on alcohol-related issues and for sustaining/enforcing environmental prevention strategies
Example: Information on the formation of the Vallejo, CA Alcohol Policy Coalition
For more information on how to engage allies, click here…
Gather and Analyze Data
Your data must be reliable. Land-use policies meant to address alcohol-related problems must clearly and credibly illustrate the impact of alcohol availability on your community. You’ll need to show a “nexus”—a clear linkage—between alcohol outlets and alcohol problems.
Keep in mind that data you collect does not have to scientifically prove the relationship between alcohol beverage establishments and alcohol-related problems. Anecdotes from community members and others who observe problems directly are extremely valuable.
Data Sources
Police Data. Depending on how detailed they are, these data can help shed light on where in your city alcohol-related incidents (such as public inebriation, drunk-driving or alcohol-related violence) occur. Geographic Information System (GIS) software, used for crime analysis in many police departments, provides a powerful tool for compiling and analyzing geographic data about alcohol-related problems.
Interview Staff at Public Agencies, Nonprofits and Other Institutions that Have Contact with Those Affected by Alcohol-Related Problems. Individuals who work at the local police department, public and nonprofit providers of social services, businesses—especially retail stores and hospitality enterprises—can be sources of valuable information on alcohol-related problems and prevention strategies.
Gather Community Members’ Perspectives on Alcohol Availability and Alcohol-Related Problems. Examples include:
• Focus groups with community members from the city as a whole, or from specific parts of the city.
• Surveys of young people to find out how easy it is for them to purchase alcohol from local retailers
Look at Studies of Similar Communities: There is a growing body of literature on the relationship between alcohol availability—including retail distribution—and alcohol-related problems. Scientific studies that looked at communities similar to yours can help make the case for zoning strategies targeted at alcohol-related problems
Analyze the Data
Use the data collected from these various sources to answer key questions about alcohol problems in your community, such as:
• What do community members identify as the most urgent issues regarding alcohol availability?
• What parts of the city have a high concentration of alcohol outlets? Do these areas appear to have special challenges or problems related to alcohol availability?
• Are there any areas of the city where crime rates are higher, according to police reports? Is it possible to determine whether alcohol sales establishments are more common in this area?
• Does the city experience any problems with underage drinking? How easy is it for local minors to buy alcohol?
• Do health department records or interviews suggest any health problems associated with alcohol availability?
• Are there any “problem” alcohol outlets in the city? Are there areas of the city with numerous such outlets?
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