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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRP 86-07; Union Oil; Redevelopment Permits (RP) (2)Unocal Refining Unocal Corporatiorf PO. Box 7600 San Diego, California 92138 Telephone (619) 291-7600 eting Division UNOCAL® ^ fa ^' » B. L. Scapiairro Manager, Real Estate Continental Division C October 29, 198 6 City of Carlsbad Planning Department 2075 Las Palnas Drive Carlsbad/ California 92008 Attn: Brian Hunter Dear Mr. Hunter: This #20. RP/CUP 86-7 Unocal Service Station Elm & Harding Carlsbad/ California 7 26 3 letter is in reference to RP/CUP 86-7/ Conditions #18 and In the event the City of Carlsbad constructs a municipal parking facility within the Downtown Redevelopment area/ Union Oil Company of California/ dba Unocal/ agrees to enter into an agreement relative to four off-site parking spaces (Condition #18) . In reference to Condition #20/ Unocal's Dealer is obligated under his lease agreement/ to routinely naintain the landscaping in a healthy and weed-free manner. In the event the Dealer does not maintain the landscaping/ Unocal will assume all responsibilities to comply with Condition #20- Very tru BLS/mew cc: D. G. Trapp A. L. Quijalvo R. R. Jarrett R. G. Faudoa/ Gary Engineering MEMORANDUM DATE: MAY 28, 1986 TO: DESIGN REVIEW BOARD FROM: PLANNING DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: RP/CUP 86-7 - UNION OIL - Request for a minor redevelopment permi t/condi ti onal use permit to expand and renovate a service station at the northwest corner of Elm Avenue and Harding Street in Subarea 1 of the V-R zone. This project was reviewed by the Design Review Board on April 23, 1986. The Design Review Board believed it was advantageous to the City to have the service station renovated. Staff was requested to return the project to the next meeting with a resolution recommending approval. To allow for the 10 day public review required by CEQA, the project had to be postponed until the meeting of May 28th. ATTACHMENTS 1) Design Review Board Resolution No. 072 2) Staff Report, dated April 23, 1986 3) Environmental Document, dated May 7, 1986 AML:bn 5/8/86 DEVELOPMENTAL 0 ^95^ H ^200 ELM AVENUE SERVICES m^Kj^M CARLSBAD, CA 92008-1989 LAND USE PLANNING OFFICE' ^^jg^y 438-5591 Citp of Carlsbab May 15, 1986 UNION OIL COMPANY P. 0. Box 7600 San Diego, CA 92138 SUBJECT: RP/CUP 86-7 UNION OIL Preliminary Staff Report The preliminary staff report for the above referenced project will be available for you to pick up on Friday, May 16 , 1986, after 8 a.m. This preliminary report will be discussed by staff at the Development Coordinating Committee (D.C.C.) meeting which will be held on May 19, 1986. A twenty (20) minute appointment has been set aside for you at 9:40 a.m. If you have any questions concerning your project, you should attend the D.C.C. meeti ng. It Is necessary that you bring your required colored exhiblt(s) with you to this meeting In order for your project to go forward to Planning Coanlsslon. If you do not plan to attend this •eeting, please nake arrangements to have your colored exhlblt(s) here by the scheduled tiae above. If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact the Planning Department at 438-5591. CITY OF CARLSBAD MICHAEL J. HOLZMILLER Planning Di rector Pla'nning Department MJH:bn DEVELOPMENTAL • ^^00 ELM AVENUE SERVICES ^^^WJ^M CARLSBAD, CA 92008-1989 ^iTjfcSi^y (619) 438-5591 LANDUSEPLANNINGOFFICE ^Wfc^jc-rfo^ Citp of €avlihah May 15, 1986 GARY ENGINEERING, INC. 2207 Garnet Avenue, Suite M San Diego, CA 92109 SUBJECT: RP/CUP 86-7 UNION OIL Preliminary Staff Report The preliminary staff report for the above referenced project will be available for you to pick up on Friday, May 16 , 1986, after 8 a.m. This preliminary report will be discussed by staff at the Development Coordinating Committee (D.C.C.) meeting which will be held on May 19, 1986. A twenty (20) minute appointment has been set aside for you at 9:40 a.m. If you have any questions concerning your project, you should attend the D.C.C. meeti ng. It is necessary that you bring your required colored exhlblt(s) with you to this meeting In order for your project to go forward to Planning Commission. If you do not plan to attend this meeting, please make arrangements to have your colored exhlbit(s) here by the scheduled time above. If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact the Planning Department at 438-5591. CITY OF CARLSBAD MICHAEL J. HOLZMILLER Planning Director Pla'nning Department ng Departmen MJH:bn DEVELOPMENTAL • • 1200 ELM AVENUE SERVICES ^^^MIIJ^W CARLSBAD, CA 92008-1989 LAND USE PLANNING OFFICE ^^^^^ 438-5591 Citp of Carlsftab. April 9, 1986 Gary Engineering, Inc. 2207 Garnett Avenue, Suite M San Diego, CA 92109 SUBJECT: RP/CUP 86-7 UNION OIL Preliminary Staff Report The preliminary staff report for the above referenced project will be available for you to pick up on Friday, April 11, 1986, after 8 a.m. This preliminary report will be discussed by staff at the Development Coordinating Committee (D.C.C.) meeting which will be held on April 14, 1986. A twenty (20) minute appointment has been set aside for you at 10:00 a.m. If you have any questions concerning your project, you should attend the D.C.C. meeting. It is necessary that yoa bring your required colored exhibit(s) vith you to this meeting in order for your project to go forward to Planning Comaission. If you do not plan to attend this aeeting, please make arrangements to have your colored exhibit(s) here by the scheduled time above. If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact the Planning Department at 438-5591. CITY OF CARLSBAD MICHAEL J. HOLZMILLER Planning Director By: CAuJ^ (j^U/mmn / Planning Department MJH:bn DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES LAND USE PLANNING OFFICE 1200 ELM AVENUE CARLSBAD, CA 92008-1989 (619) 438-5591 Citp of Caddiiab April 9, 1986 Union Oil Company of California P. 0. Box 7600 San Diego, CA 92138 SUBJECT: RP/CUP 86-7 UNION OIL Preliminary Staff Report The preliminary staff report for the above referenced project will be available for you to pick up on Friday, April 11, 1986, after 8 a.m. This preliminary report will be discussed by staff at the Development Coordinating Committee (D.C.C.) meeting which will be held on April 14, 1986. A twenty (20) minute appointment has been set aside for you at 10:00 a.m. If you have any questions concerning your project, you should attend the D.C.C. meeting. It is necessary that you bring your required colored exhibit(s) with you to this meeting in order for your project to go forward to Planning Comnission. If you do not plan to attend this meeting, please make arrangements to have your colored exhibit(s) here by the scheduled time above. If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact the Planning Department at 438-5591. CITY OF CARLSBAD MICHAEL J. HOLZMILLER Planning Director By: (LAnJ.^ ri/'/! Planning Department MJH:bn DEVELOPMENTAL 0 • AVENUE SERVICES m^vl^^M CARLSBAD, CA 92008-1989 LAND USE PLANNING OFFICE ^^fe^T 438-5591 Citp of Carld&ab December 24, 1985 Gary Engineering, Inc. 2207 Garnet Avenue, Suite G San Diego, CA 92109 RE: CUP-283 - Union Oil Company The Planning Director and the City Engineer have reviewed the application you submitted for the above-referenced project. Based upon this review, it has been determined that there are major problems associated with your application which must be addressed before this application can be scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing. The problems or issues are listed below. Also, the name of the project planner and project engineer is provided. You should set-up a meeting to discuss the issues with the appropriate staff m.ember. Once the problems/issues have been addressed, your application will then be scheduled for a hearing. Problems/Issues Project Planner *Driveway locations Adrienne Landers Parking Project Engineer Location of trash enclosure Clyde Wickham *Access <f')^% Costa Real VMVJ Municipal Water District ^^^^1^^ 5950 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008 Telephone: (619)438-2722 DATE: December 23, 1985 TO: City of Carlsbad Land Use Planning Office Carlsbad, California 92008 ATTN: Dee Landers SUBJ: CUP 283 - Union Oil Co. (76)-CRMWD Project No. 85-601.152 (N.W. Corner Elm & Harding) The subject project has been reviewed by the District's Engineering Department to determine the extent of District's involvement regarding existing and proposed water system to serve proposed project as follows: YES NO Are there transmission lines that affect project? ( ) (X) Are there existing facilities that will have to be reconstructed? (X) ( ) Are there new facilities that will have to be constructed? ( ) (X) Are there existing District agreements that have financial impact on the project? ( ) (X) We have the following specific recommendations: 1. The entire water system for subject project be evaluted in detail to insure adequate capacity for domestic, landscaping and fire flow demands. 2. The developer and his engineer schedule a meeting with the District engineer and establish water system layout prior to the water system improvement plans being drawn. 3. The project currently has one existing water service and meter which provides service to existing structure. Please be advised that because said water service and Page 2 Dee Landers December 23, 1985 meter are presently located in proposed new driveway approach, the District shall require water service and meter to be relocated by developer. Regarding fees and deposits: The developer will be responsible for the major facility charge which will be collected at time of issuance of building permit. Please contact Mr. Jerry Whitley if you have any questions regarding this project. William E. Blakesley Deputy District Engineer WEB:sja cc: Fire Marshal R.G. Favdoa, Field Engineer Gary Engineering, Inc. CRMWD 85-601.152 COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES 1700 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101 ALCOHOL PROGRAM 3851 ROSECRANS STREET SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92110 (619) 236-2004 April 22, 1985 Michael Holzmiller Director, Planning Department 1200 Elm Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Dear Mr. Holzmiller: The County Alcohol Program recently completed a study on the relationship between point of purchase of alcoholic beverages and place of consumption. The principal purpose of the study was to determine if gasoline mini-marts which sell alcoholic beverages contribute to drinking-driver problems. The current attention locally on the issue of concurrent gasoline-alcohol sales outlets prompts me to distribute this study to local planners. I have also included a copy of my testimony before the Assembly Select Committee on Alcohol Related Problems Hearing on Concurrent Sale of Alcohol and Gasoline. I believe that the proliferation of gasoline mini-marts and the resulting increase in alcohol availability poses some important questions for community planners interested in the reduction of alcohol problems. As you know, this issue is receiving increasing attention at both the state and local level. To date, approximately 40 California cities and two counties have adopted zoning ordinances either restricting or prohibiting concurrent sales outlets. If I can be of assistance to you as these issues are raised in your community, or if you have any questions about the Alcohol Program study, please call me at 236-2648. Sincerely, p. ROBERT I. REYN0l/6s Co'unty Alcohol Program Administrator RIR:BR:sd encl(2) Survey of Off-Site Purchase and Consumption Locations of Convicted Drinking Drivers Prepared By SAN DIEGO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES - ALCOHOL PROGRAM Lance B. Segars and Barbara E. Ryan County of San Diego Alcohol Program Robert I. Reynolds Alcohol Program Administrator March, 1986 Survey of Off«Site Purchase and Consumption Locations of Convicted Drinking Drivers INTRODUCTION In recent years the distribution of outlets selling alcohol beverages has changed dramatically. Most recently, a new type of outlet has emerged for the off-site sale of alcohol: the gas station mini-mart.* Gas station mini-marts are often former full service gas stations which have converted car repair areas to convenience stores which sell beer and wine. In addition, convenience stores may become gas station mini-marts by converting parking areas to gas service. The growth of these new outlets has resulted in increasing concern on the part of public officials, law enforcement officers, and planners. Generally, four concerns have been raised. First, with the proliferation of gas station mini- marts the availability of alcohol beverages is greatly increased. Availability of alcohol is correlated with the occurrence of many alcohol related problems such as drinking and driving, public drunkeness, and work and "home accidents (1) . Second, the availability of alcohol at locations which sell gasoline is believed to result in higher rates of drinking and driving since most purchasers are driving to and from the purchase loction. Third, the character- istics of the employees of mini-marts (i.e., most often young persons) may result in higher rates of sales to underage persons. Finally, the concurrent sales of gasoline and alcohol is inconsistent with current concern over the drinking driving problem in this country since it unnecessarily relates the two. These and other concerns have resulted in many attempts to limit the availability of alcohol at mini-marts. When mini-marts first began to appear in California in the early 1970's, the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control uniformly denied all applica- tions on the statutory grounds that issuance of the license would be contrary to the public welfare and safety and would create a law enforcement problem. As these denials were appealed to the courts, however, they were overturned primarily due to lack of credible evidence that would conclusively show that drinking related problems could be tied directly to the operation of mini-marts (2) . More recently, local jurisdictions, in response to community concerns regarding the proliferation of mini-marts, have enacted zoning ordinances which prohibit concurrent sales. Currently, at least 40 California cities and two counties have ordinances in effect prohibiting the marketing of motor fuel and alcohoic beverages from the same premises. In ,addition, there is currently a bill in the State Assembly (AB 3366) prohibiting concurrent sales at the State level. *For this report the term "mini-mart" is used to describe locations which sell gasoline and alcohol concurrently. per month while those purchasing purchases per month. at mini-marts averaged between one and two Type of Location Liquor Store Convenience Store Supermarket Mini-Mart n*l,333 Table 1 Frequency of Purchase for Store Types _ Mean Frequency of Purchase* 3.79 3.11 3.06 2.46 % Who Purchased at Store Type 89% 76% 83% 60% *Respondents reported frequency of purchase from each outlet type on a 7-point scale. The values assigned to the scale for calculating mean scores are never (1), less than once a month (2), about once a month(3), 2-3 times a month (4), 1-2 times a week (5), 3-4 times a week (6), almost every day (7). After purchasing alcohol, individuals consume that alcohol in various locations (Table 2). Regardless of purchase location, with only one exception, individ- uals reported most often consuming the alcohol at home shortly after purchase followed, in order, by drinking at a party shortly after purchase, keeping for later, drinking in a public place, drinking in a car, and finally, drinking at a work site. Those purchasing at supermarkets reported more often keeping the alcohol for later than drinking at a party. In general, for all purchase locations, individuals reported most often purchasing alcohol for immediate consumption at a private location. Table 3 Mean Purchases Per Month* By Store Type and Drinking Location Location of Consumption Liquor Store Convenience Store Supermarket Gas Station Mini-Mart Total Drank at home 3.25 1.89 1.52 1.10 7.76 Drank at party 2.77 1.65 1.01 0.97 6.40 Kept for later 1.91 1.13 1.17 0.64 4.85 Drank in public place 1.95 1.17 0.62 0.76 4.47 Drank in car 1.95 1.24 0.54 0.77 4.50 Drank at work site 1.22 0.73 0.33 0.46 2.74 TOTAL 13.02 7.81 5.19 4.70 30.72 *Mean purchases per month computed as frequency of purchase from each outlet type multiplied by frequency of consumption at each location when purchased at that outlet. For computation responses for frequency of purchase from each location were recoded to: never = 0, less than once a month = .5, about once a month = 1, 2-3 times a month = 2.5, 1-2 times a week = 6, 3-4 times a week = 14, almost every day = 25. Frequency of consumption was computed using never = 0, rarely = .25, about half the time = .5, frequently = .75, almost every time = 1. The purchase of alcohol from any type of outlet is partially controlled by the number of outlets available. Currently there is no method used by the State ABC or other agencies to keep track of the number of outlets of any particular type (e.g., mini-marts versus supermarkets). To assess the degree to which purchases are related to concentration of outlet types a survey of San Diego City off-site establishments was conducted and used to estimate the number of outlets of each type in the County (Table 4). The largest number of outlets for off-site consumption are convenience stores or small markets representing an estimated 47% of all off-site locations. In most cases, convenience stores have beer and wine licenses. Liquor stores and supermarkets, most of which have general liquor licenses, represent about equal portions of outlets. The least frequent location is the mini-mart which also typically has a beer and wine license. Although the survey of dutlets from June, 1984 indicated 3% of outlets were mini-marts, for purposes of estimation this figure was doubled to account for the perceived increase in these locations over the last two years. Regardless of this estimation, mini-marts remain much less frequent than other types of outlets. DISCUSSION This study demonstrates that there is a relationship between where people buy alcohol and where they drink it. The data indicates that purchases from convenient locations more often result in public drinking and drinking in a car. The finding that public consumption in general and consumption in a car in particular does not vary significantly for liquor stores, convenience stores and mini-marts is not surprising given current marketing strategies in these stores. Other than the availability of gasoline, the differences between such outlets is often negligible. Convenience stores, liquor stores, and mini-marts all rely heavily on impulse sales. The finding that purchases at these three types of stores more often results in immediate consumption is consistent with marketing research which indicates that beer, the beverage of choice of drinking drivers (7), purchased in convenience stores is consumed within a half hour (8). Supermarket purchases are more often planned and result in at home consumption. Although mini-marts were not found to produce significantly greater rates of drinking in problem situations, several factors suggest that the continued proliferation of mini-marts could produce increased problems. The location of gas stations are generally the most desirable in terms of easy access by cars. These locations include street corners, freeway offramps, etc. which provide a high visibility for alcoholic beverages among the driving population. This may account for the substantialy higher rate of alcohol purchases in mini-marts than would be expected given their proportional share of outlets in the community. In addition, mini-marts symbolically merge the ready availability of alcohol and gasoline. This merging is inconsistent with increased public concern regarding drinking and driving problems. An important factor contributing to the level of community alcohol problems is the overall availability of alcohol. As availability increases, per capita consumption increases, and alcohol problems increase. Current ABC regulations in California provide very limited controls over the number of beer and wine off-sale outlets. In general the acquisition of a beer and wine license is simply a matter of paying the fee and having a location. There are no ABC controls 'over the number or distribution of licenses except in limited situations. If alcohol becomes generally available at gas stations the number of outlets would increase in San Diego County by up to 50%. With the current rate of conversion of gas stations to mini-marts, the availability of alcohol is increasing dramatically with no systematic method of assessing the impact of such conversions on communities. Indeed, in the absence of state control, it seems only prudent for communities to institute local land use ordinances to control the proliferation of outlets. IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY This study examined the relationship df place of purchase to place of consumption of different off-sale outlets, with particular focus on mini-marts. The findings raise a number of issues for future study. First, data on outlet type and distribution is very limited, thus making it currently extremely difficult to assess the impact of mini-marts on overall alcohol availability. REFERENCES 1. Rush, B., Steinberg, M., and Brook, 8. The relationships among availability, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related damage in the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, 1955-1982. Addiction Research Foundation, n.d. 2. Personal communication from Jay R. Stroh, Director, California State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. July 9, 1984. 3. Reported in: Stop mixing alcohol and gasoline. California Capitol Re-Cap, California Council on Alcohol Problems Newsletter. Jan-Feb, 1986. 4. Ryan, B.E. and Segars, L.B. San Diego County first conviction program population description. San Diego County Department of Health Services, Alcohol Program. January, 1983. 5. Segars, L.B. and Ryan, B.E. A description of the multiple offense drinking driver in San Diego County. San Diego County Department of Health Services, Alcohol Program. March, 1986. 6. Wickland Oil Company. Position Paper in Support of AB 1433. January, 1986. 7. Berger, D.E. and Snortum, J.R. Alcoholic beverage preference of drinking-driving violators. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 46:232-239, 1985. 8. No author. Beverages: drowning the recession. C-Store Business, p. 11-16, April, 1983. TESTIMONY FOR THE ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ALCOHOL AND RELATED PROBLEMS Hearing on the Dual Sale of Alcoholic Beve rages and Gasoline April 10, 1986 Sacramento, California Robert I. Reynolds Alcohol Program Administrator County of San Diego TESTIMONY FOR THE ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ALCOHOL AND RELATED PROBLEMS My name is Bob Reynolds and I am the San Diego County Alcohol Program Adminis- trator. My remarks today address the issue of the sale of alcoholic beverages and gasoline at the same outlet. My remarks focus on three areas: 1. The proliferation of gas station mini-marts; 2. The public health effects of increased alcohol availability, and 3. A San Diego County study on mini-mart alcohol purchases and drinking and driving occurrences. The study indicates that mini-marts account for approximately three times the expected proportion of drinking and driving occurrences given their estimated outlet share. Proliferation of Outlets The gas station mini-mart, which typically has an off-site beer and wine license, is a relatively recent phenomenon. When gasoline mini-marts first appeared in California in the early 1970's the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control uniformly denied all applications for alcohol licenses on the grounds that issuance of the license would be contrary to the public welfare and safety, and would create law enforcement problems. However, these routine denials, when appealed to the courts, were overturned. Currently there are no state restrictions, except in limited situations, on licenses for off-sale beer and wine. The actual rate of proliferation of these outlets is not known as licenses are tracked by type of license issued, not type of outlet. However, in response to the perception that these outlets were increasing at a rapid rate, and in recognition of new studies on problems associated with mini-marts in particular, and increased alcohol availability in general, at least 40 California cities and two counties have enacted local zoning ordinances that restrict or prohibit concurrent sale outlets. To date, San Diego County is not one of those counties which prohibit concurrent sale outlets. Currently there are an estimated 104 mini-mart outlets in the county, representing 6% of the total off-sale alcohol outlets. If alcohol sales were permitted at the remaining gas stations in the County, the number of off-sale outlets in San Diego County would increase by over 900. This would increase the current number of off-sale alcohol outlets in San Diego by 50%, a phenomenal increase. With the current rate of conversion of gas stations to mini-marts, the availability of alcohol is increasing dramatically with no systematic method of assessing the impact of such increased alcohol availability on communities. Health Effects of Alcohol Availability The relationship between alcohol availability, level of alcohol consumption, and level of alcohol problems is well documented in the research literature. Increased availability leads to increased consumption, which leads to in- creased alcohol problems. This public health view of alcohol problems is a principal component of alcohol problem prevention strategies emanating from the National Academy of Sciences, and demonstrates that the apparatus of distribution can be used to affect not only how much people drink, but also conceivably when, where, and how they do their drinking. Currently the burden of proving that a particular outlet "causes" alcohol problems is placed almost entirely on the public health advocate. With the relative decline in the authority and resources of the State ABC, in Cali- fornia alcohol sales have progressively become considered as simple commercial activity, with minimal regulation. As alcohol is a depressant, addictive drug, alcohol sales should not be viewed as similar to other commercial activity, and should be subject to special controls and regulation. New scientific studies which demonstrate the interrelationship of availability, consumption, and alcohol problems support the view that the burden of proof should be shifted. Those who wish to expand availability should be required to prove that increased availability will not harm the public interest. In fact, a recent report by the American Assembly for the Western Region recom- mended that ^alj[ applications for alcohol retail outlets should be subject to mandatory "environmental impact" analysis. This seems especially important in the case of mini-marts given preliminary studies that suggest that sales at mini-marts contribute directly to problems such as drinking in a car and underage purchases. A position paper published by the Wickland Oil Corporation reports sales data indicating that 70% of those purchasing alcohol also purchase gasoline and that 40% of beer sales are single cans rather than larger purchases, suggesting immediate consumption. The American Assembly for the Western Region, in recognition of such studies, makes the policy recommendation that "gasoline stations and convenience stores should not be licensed for sale of alcoholic beverages." San Diego Study In order to determine what relationship exists, if any, between point of pur- chase and drinking location, the San Diego County Alcohol Program conducted a survey of over 1,300 convicted drinking drivers (628 first offenders and 705 multiple offenders). The principal finding of this study is that there a relationship between where people buy alcohol and where they drink it. The data indicates that purchases from convenient locations more often result in public drinking and drinking in a car. In San Diego County, mini-marts con- stitute 6% of off-sale outlets, but claim 15% of purchases and 17% of subse- quent drinking in a car occurrences among those convicted of a DUI. Mini-marts are by definition convenient, providing easy access by cars. Their locations often include street corners and freeway off ramps, which provide a high visibility for alcoholic beverages among the drinking population. In addition mini-marts symbolically merge the ready availability of alcohol and gasoline. At the very least this merging is inconsistent with increased pub- lic concern regarding drinking and driving. The San Diego study raises two important issues: First, data on outlet type and distribution is very limited, thus making it extremely difficult to assess the impact of mini-marts on overall alcohol availability. Second, the propor- tional share of mini-mart outlets (6%) in relation to share of purchases (15X) and subsequent drinking in a car (175!) clearly suggests that mini-marts dis- proportionately contribute to problem behavior. This data indicates that mini-raarts account for approximately three times the expected proportion of drinking and driving occurrences given their estimated outlet share. In closing, there is currently sufficient evidence regarding alcohol problems related to mini-marts to support the prohibition of such outlets. Even were there an absence of such data specific to mini-marts, the new research linking availability, consumption, and alcohol problems generally is sufficient reason to ban concurrent alcohol and gasoline sales until there is countervailing evidence that such outlets do not Increase community alcohol problems