University Honors

Much of the Southern Inland Empire can be characterized by a term that depicts aseemingly barren wasteland — food desert. That title describes an environment plagued by foodinsecurity. Residents have little to no access to supermarkets or large grocery stores, and theycompensate by shopping where they can keep individual transactions low. Healthy food sourcesand markets have been supplanted by fast food establishments, liquor stores, convenience stores,and gas stations. This issue of food insecurity largely overlaps with an overabundant access anduse of alcohol, as many retail stores that sell food act as off-sale alcohol outlets as well —establishments authorized to sell alcohol for consumption off of the premises. As of 2019, nearly13% of Riverside and San Bernardino residents experience food insecurity, and there has been a29.3% increase in binge drinking in these counties. These interconnected disparities havebecome commonplace in minoritized and disadvantaged communities, and their continuingimpact may be characterized as structural racism and discrimination. Certain ethnic groups —namely Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans — are discriminatedagainst through a mutually reinforcing system of housing, education, employment, andhealthcare. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a correlation between foodinsecurity, alcohol accessibility and use, and communities facing structural racism in theSouthern Inland Empire. By reviewing and analyzing demographic data, this study aims toidentify how these public health disparities have impacted the local economic and socio-culturalwell-being of minoritized communities.