Community Coalition: Crime Reduction Through Closing Liquor Stores in South Los Angeles

In the 1990s crack cocaine use was at epidemic levels in the African American communities of Los Angeles. Community groups came together to fight the drug’s hold on their community and to figure out ways to reduce the rising rates of crime and violence related to drugs and alcohol. Out of these meetings, the South Los Angeles Community Coalition decided to conduct a survey of community residents and ask them what was needed to curb violence. The 30,000-resident survey found that residents overwhelmingly believed that the closure of certain liquor stores in their community would reduce crime and violence in the neighborhood, more so than targeting gang activity. At the time, South Los Angeles had one of the highest liquor store densities in the nation; more than 700 liquor stores for approximately 820,000 residents in an area of 71.3 square miles.

The Community Coalition heeded the suggestions of the community members and used Los Angeles County’s conditional use permits for liquor stores to their advantage. They identified 24 nuisance liquor stores to be their first and primary targets based on neighborhood dialogues and evidence of crime and illicit behavior. They launched a grassroots campaign to get decision makers to act in favor of the Coalition. They distributed flyers, talked to people door-to-door, researched the liquor store industry, involved local lawmakers and council members and held neighborhood meetings. The basis of their requests to close the problematic liquor stores was in existing health research showing that reduced availability of alcohol is strongly correlated with reduced alcohol consumption and a reduction of both intentional and unintentional injuries.

To reduce alcohol and drug related crime and violence in South Los Angeles by closing liquor stores known to be involved in or at the center of crime, violence and illegal activity.

In three years, the Community Coalition shut down nearly 200 operating liquor stores in South Los Angeles. The coalition has documented an average reduction of 27% in violent crimes, drug- related felonies and illegal activities (e.g., prostitution) within a four-block radius of each liquor store that was closed.

The organizing groups have not been able to document a significant decrease in alcohol consumption in the areas because of a lack of baseline data; however, the groups strongly believe that alcohol consumption has decreased due to the decreased availability.