In the inner city, sobering facts about liquor licenses

By Meghan Irons

"Dorchester teens participating in the review also surveyed 50 of the 104 alcohol outlets in their neighborhood and took photographs of 164 advertisements, including signs on storefronts and bars as well as standalone neon signs. The total worked out to a ratio of more than three alcohol ads per one alcohol outlet, the review found."

"Activists trying to curb underage drinking say the alcohol industry targets young people with signs that signal that it's OK to drink. The marketing - especially the high density of signs - can contribute to underage drinking, youth violence, and youth alcohol abuse, according to the Medical Foundation review."

"'What we have found about outlet density is that...the greater the outlet density, the more likelihood for heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems among college students,' said Henry Wechsler, a lecturer at Harvard School of Public Health, who was not involved in the foundation's review..."

Full article available at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/10/12/in_the_inner_city_s...