Preventing Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Maintaining Limits on Days of Sale

Research Gaps

What are Research Gaps?

Prior to and during the literature review and data analysis, the review team and the Community Preventive Services Task Force attempt to address the key questions of what interventions work, for whom, under what conditions, and at what cost. Lack of sufficient information often leaves one or more of these questions unanswered. The Community Guide refers to these as "research gaps." Research gaps can be pulled together as a narrative or in the form of a basic set of questions to inform a research agenda for those in the field.

Identified Research Gaps

• The research on days of sale conducted in the U.S. was primarily at the state level. However, additional research is needed to assess the effectiveness of local restrictions on days of sale in preventing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms.
• It would be useful to better understand the effect of differential policies regarding days of sale across neighboring jurisdictions. Does more ready access in a neighboring region lead to increased travel to this region, allowing the possibility of motor vehicle crashes, especially with intoxicated drivers?
• Additional research is also needed to more fully assess the costs and benefits of restricting the number of days of sale. From a societal perspective, these should include:
  • Intervention costs
  • Loss in sales and tax revenues and employment
  • Reductions in fatal and nonfatal injuries, crime, and violence
  • Gains in safety and public order
  • Averted loss of household and workplace productivity