Geographies of Alcohol Consumption and Public Space

The study of where, how and why alcohol is consumed reveals complex spatial patterns that extend from private homes to urban streets, parks, pubs and cultural events. Geographical approaches draw attention to the ways in which physical settings shape drinking practices, social interactions and regulatory measures. Public spaces often foster convivial atmospheres and spontaneous encounters, while private and semi-private venues can encourage habitual or regulated consumption. Variations in licensing regimes, pricing strategies and venue design influence accessibility and behaviour, intersecting with socio-economic factors and cultural norms. Research in this field highlights the importance of affective atmospheres, notions of sociability and emerging informal drinkscapes in understanding both the pleasures and health risks associated with alcohol. Insights from urban planning and public health emphasise the need for place-based policies that consider the distribution of on- and off-premise outlets, spatial inequalities and the role of everyday improvisation in shaping inclusive and safe environments. A global perspective underlines how local histories, traditions and governance structures converge to form diverse geographies of drinking, informing strategies for harm reduction and community engagement.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Geographies of Alcohol Consumption and Public Space publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in geographies of alcohol consumption and public space across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Drinkscape: A spatial configuration of settings and atmospheres where alcohol consumption occurs, encompassing both material and social elements.

On-premise consumption: Drinking behaviour that takes place within licensed venues such as bars, pubs and restaurants.

Off-premise consumption: Alcohol purchased from retail outlets to be consumed elsewhere, often in private or unregulated environments.

Affective atmosphere: The mood or emotional tone generated by the interplay of people, space and sensory stimuli in a given environment.

References

1. Drinking alcohol at home feels different from drinking in public places: a qualitative study of midlife Australians. Health & Place (2024).
2. Everyday improvising in public space: The forest pub as a site for suburban being. Journal of Urban Affairs (2023).
3. ‘If they weren’t in the Pub, they Probably wouldn’t Even Know each Other’: Alcohol, Sociability and Pub Based Leisure. International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure (2020).