Effects of a multi-component responsible beverage service programme on violent assaults in Sweden

Aim A multi‐component Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) programme has been disseminated in Swedish municipalities. The aim of the programme is to reduce violence associated with consumption of alcohol at on‐licensed premises. This study aimed to analyse the effect of the programme on police‐recorded assaults after the dissemination of the programme in Swedish municipalities, 1996–2009. Design This study is a natural experiment that uses variation in the level of implementation of the RBS programme to predict change in the rate of police‐recorded assaults. Setting Swedish municipalities. Participants The municipalities included in the study initiated the RBS programme no later than 2008. On‐licensed premises open during the evenings must exist. Of 290 municipalities, 237 fulfilled these requirements. Measurement Programme fidelity was studied by means of several surveys. Yearly data on police‐recorded assaults, per 100 000 inhabitants aged 15 and above, committed on weekend nights, were used as dependent variable. A fixed‐effects panel data regression model was used to examine the effect of the programme. Findings Each extension of the programme, by one component, was associated with a significant 3.1% reduction in assaults. However, this effect was seen mainly in smaller municipalities. Of the different components of the programme, the presence of a community coalition steering group had a significant effect on assaults. No significant effect was found regarding RBS training or supervision of on‐licensed premises. Conclusion Multi‐component Responsible Beverage Service programmes can have a significant effect on police‐recorded assaults even when implemented on a large scale in many communities.