scholarly journals Drinking beer, wine or spirits – does it matter for inequalities in alcohol-related hospital admission? A record-linked longitudinal study in Wales

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Gartner ◽  
Laszlo Trefan ◽  
Simon Moore ◽  
Ashley Akbari ◽  
Shantini Paranjothy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Housing Tenure ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Beverage Type ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm ◽  
Deprived Areas

Abstract Background Alcohol-related harm has been found to be higher in disadvantaged groups, despite similar alcohol consumption to advantaged groups. This is known as the alcohol harm paradox. Beverage type is reportedly socioeconomically patterned but has not been included in longitudinal studies investigating record-linked alcohol consumption and harm. We aimed to investigate whether and to what extent consumption by beverage type, BMI, smoking and other factors explain inequalities in alcohol-related harm. Methods 11,038 respondents to the Welsh Health Survey answered questions on their health and lifestyle. Responses were record-linked to wholly attributable alcohol-related hospital admissions (ARHA) eight years before the survey month and until the end of 2016 within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. We used survival analysis, specifically multi-level and multi-failure Cox mixed effects models, to calculate the hazard ratios of ARHA. In adjusted models we included the number of units consumed by beverage type and other factors, censoring for death or moving out of Wales. Results People living in more deprived areas had a higher risk of admission (HR 1.75; 95% CI 1.23–2.48) compared to less deprived. Adjustment for the number of units by type of alcohol consumed only reduced the risk of ARHA for more deprived areas by 4% (HR 1.72; 95% CI 1.21–2.44), whilst adding smoking and BMI reduced these inequalities by 35.7% (HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.01–2.17). These social patterns were similar for individual-level social class, employment, housing tenure and highest qualification. Inequalities were further reduced by including either health status (16.6%) or mental health condition (5%). Unit increases of spirits drunk were positively associated with increasing risk of ARHA (HR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01–1.12), higher than for other drink types. Conclusions Although consumption by beverage type was socioeconomically patterned, it did not help explain inequalities in alcohol-related harm. Smoking and BMI explained around a third of inequalities, but lower socioeconomic groups had a persistently higher risk of (multiple) ARHA. Comorbidities also explained a further proportion of inequalities and need further investigation, including the contribution of specific conditions. The increased harms from consumption of stronger alcoholic beverages may inform public health policy.

scholarly journals Perception of alcohol policies by consumers of unrecorded alcohol - an exploratory qualitative interview study with patients of alcohol treatment facilities in Russia

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Neufeld ◽  
Hans-Ulrich Wittchen ◽  
Lori E. Ross ◽  
Carina Ferreira-Borges ◽  
Jürgen Rehm
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Alcohol Treatment ◽  
Qualitative Interview ◽  
Interview Study ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Alcohol Policies ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

Abstract Background Over the last decade Russia has introduced various policy measures to reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm at the population level. Several of these policies, such as higher pricing and taxation or restrictions of availability, may not work in the case of unrecorded alcohol consumption; they may encourage consumers to switch to unrecorded alcohol and even increase consumption. In the present qualitative interview study we explore the perception of the recently implemented alcohol policies by patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence in two Russian cities in the years 2013–2014 and shed light on possible entry-points to prevention. Methods Semi-structured in-depth expert interviews were conducted with 25 patients of state-run drug and alcohol treatment centers in two Russian cities in 2013 and 2014. The interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results All of the interviewed participants have consumed unrecorded at some point with the majority being regular consumers, mostly switching between recorded and unrecorded alcohol depending on the situation, as predominantly defined by available money and available sources of alcohol. Low price and high availability were reported as the main reasons for unrecorded consumption. Participants voiced a general mistrust of the recently implemented alcohol regulations and viewed them largely as ineffective. They expressed particular concerns over price increases and restriction of night sales of alcoholic beverages. Substantial shifts within the unrecorded alcohol market were reported, with a decreasing availability of home-made beverages in favor of alcohol surrogates in the form of non-beverage alcohol, medicinal and cosmetic compounds. At the same time consumption of home-made alcoholic beverages was seen as a strategy to avoid counterfeit alcohol, which was frequently reported for retail sale. Conclusions Despite the alcohol policy changes in the last years in Russia, consumption of unrecorded alcohol remained common for people with alcohol dependence. Reduction of availability of unrecorded alcohol, first and foremost in the form of cheap surrogates, is urgently needed to reduce alcohol-related harm. Implementation of screening and brief interventions for excessive alcohol consumption in various contexts such as primary healthcare settings, trauma treatment services or the workplace could be another important measure targeting consumers of unrecorded alcohol.

scholarly journals Self-Rated Aversion to Taste Qualities and the PROP Taster Phenotype Associate with Alcoholic Beverage Intake and Preference

Beverages ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Gary J. Pickering ◽  
Margaret K. Thibodeau
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Red Wine ◽  
Alcoholic Beverage ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
White Wine ◽  
Sensory Attributes ◽  
Taste Perception ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Beverage Type

Consumers often identify “taste” as an important factor when selecting alcoholic beverages. Although it is assumed that reduced alcohol consumption in PROP super-tasters is due to a greater dislike of the nominally aversive sensations that they experience more intensely (e.g., bitterness) when compared to PROP non-tasters, this question has not been specifically asked to them. Therefore, we examined consumers’ self-reported aversion towards specific sensory attributes (bitter, hot/burn, dry, sour, sweet, carbonation) for four alcoholic beverage types (white wine, red wine, beer, spirits) using a convenience sample of U.S. wine consumers (n = 925). Participants rated 18 statements describing different combinations of sensory attributes and alcoholic beverages on a 5-point Likert scale (e.g., Beer tastes too bitter for me). Individuals who tended to agree more strongly with the statements (i.e., they were more averse; p(F) < 0.05) tended to (i) consume less of all beverage types, (ii) consume a higher proportion of white wine (p(r) < 0.05), and (iii) were more likely to be female or PROP super-tasters. The results suggest that self-reported aversion to specific sensory attributes is associated with not only lower overall intake of alcoholic beverages, but also a shift in the relative proportions of beverage type consumed; a key finding for studies investigating how taste perception impacts alcohol consumption.

Friends drinking together: young adults’ evolving support practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Dresler ◽  
Margaret Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Multiple Forms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Friendship Group ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Support Practices ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

Purpose Young adult’s drinking is about pleasure, a communal practice of socialising together in a friendship group. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evolving support practices of drinking groups for better targeting of health communications messages. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative descriptive study examined the narratives of 28 young people’s (age 18-24 years old) experience of a “night out” framed as the Alcohol Consumption Journey. Findings The Alcohol Consumption Journey ritual consisted of three phases: preloading, going out and recovery. The participants described multiple forms of support practices located at each phase of the Alcohol Consumption Journey for maximising pleasure, minimising risk, encouraging supportive behaviours, enhancing group cohesion and protecting the drinkers from alcohol-related harm. Hence, support practices played a critical part in constituting and consolidating the drinking group. While the support practices appeared to be structured into the Alcohol Consumption Journey, they were activated differently for young men and young women. Support practices were an important driver in perpetuating the Alcohol Consumption Journey. Originality/value The paper extends Vander Ven’s concept of “drunk support” to better understand young adults’ evolving support practices in the ritualised Alcohol Consumption Journey.

scholarly journals Low-Alcohol Wine: A Narrative Review on Consumer Perception and Behaviour

Beverages ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Bucher ◽  
Kristine Deroover ◽  
Creina Stockley
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Consumer Perception ◽  
Alcohol Content ◽  
Wine Consumption ◽  
Reduce Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Low Alcohol ◽  
Related Harm

Low- and reduced-alcohol beverages become increasingly popular in many countries with different factors driving a change in the beverage market. The aim of the current narrative review is (a) to provide an introduction on low-alcohol wine, and (b) to provide an overview of the literature on research that investigated perception and behaviour related to low-alcohol wine consumption. Wines with reduced alcohol content can be an interesting product for a variety of stakeholders and may offer benefits for consumers while having the potential to reduce alcohol consumption and therefore contribute to the reduction of alcohol-related harm. Additional research and marketing efforts are needed to further increase awareness of the availability and quality of these products.

scholarly journals Artikel

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 209-228
Author(s):  
Heli Mustonen ◽  
Pia Mäkelä ◽  
Petri Huhtanen ◽  
Leena Metso ◽  
Kirsimarja Raitasalo
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Police Records ◽  
Personal Use ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

■ Aims In 2004, quotas on travelers' imports of alcoholic beverages from other EU member states for personal use were abolished, Estonia became a member of the EU and taxes on alcohol were decreased by 33 per cent on average. These changes resulted in a 10 per cent increase in alcohol consumption. This study set out to explore which population groups accounted for this increase and what happened to self-reported alcohol-related harm. ■ Data The data used in the article consists of a panel study where the same individuals completed a postal questionnaire before and after the changes. The questionnaire was mailed in autumn 2003 to a random sample of 4 000 Finnish persons aged 15–69 (response rate 60%) and in autumn 2004 to 1 786 persons who had completed the questionnaire in 2003 and who also agreed to participate in the follow-up (response rate 76%). ■ Results, Discussion & Conclusion A central thread in the results is that the respondents themselves reported no increase either in their own consumption or in alcohol-related harm from 2003 to 2004, although this was expected on the basis of the increase observed in sales statistics. One possible explanation for the contradiction between the statistical evidence and our respondents' self-reports is that the price cuts have led to an increase in consumption mainly among existing heavy consumers who were not covered in the questionnaire. This hypothesis is supported by reports from the treatment sector and by police records on intoxicated persons taken into custody. Another possible explanation is selective non-response, i.e. that heavier drinkers have dropped out more often than others. The non-response analyses indicated that part of the results that conflicted with our expectations was due to selective non-response. The results of our study do not warrant the conclusion that there will be no adverse consequences in terms of alcohol-related harm from the changes implemented in 2004. If consumption increases most of all among heavy consumers, that will lead to a greater increase in serious alcohol-related harm than would a growth of consumption among moderate drinkers. If consumption levels settle at a higher level, it is possible that harms will increase in the mainstream population as well.

scholarly journals The Use of Visuals in Issue Framing: Signifying Responsible Drinking

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 665-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lærke Højgaard Christiansen
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Issue Framing ◽  
Organizational Framing ◽  
Visual Framing ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

This article offers new insights into the organizational framing of social issues by drawing attention to the use of visual framing. These insights are based on a case study of the organization, Drinkaware, and its visual framing of the issue of alcohol-related harm in its campaign material. The study identifies three overall visual framing functions performed by Drinkaware’s campaign material: normalizing alcohol consumption, defining and delimiting the scope of the issue and the responsible parties, and establishing the organization’s identity as an expert. The article contributes to institutional theory, and to organizational theory more broadly by elaborating on the significant role of visuals in the framing of an issue, particularly by providing a systematic elaboration of the visual framing functions and components. The article also extends the literature on issues and issue fields, by showing how visuals contribute to defining and delimiting issues and establishing an expert identity in an issue field.

scholarly journals The Finnish Drinking Habits Survey: Implications for alcohol policy and prevention

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 619-631
Author(s):  
Katariina Warpenius ◽  
Pia Mäkelä
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcohol Prevention ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

Aims/materials: This reflection piece reviews some of the key results and conclusions from the book Näin Suomi juo ( This is how Finns drink, 2018), based on the Finnish Drinking Habits Survey. Our aim was to go through the results taking the perspective of prevention workers and policymakers: how could they benefit from the scientific findings when tackling alcohol-related harm? Results/reflections: The reflections displayed in this article provide some useful arguments and justifications for population-level alcohol policy in the controversial alcohol policy debate. Harms do not only arise among the heaviest drinkers, and efficient methods to prevent harm may be found among the prevention efforts that apply to populations rather than only to the heaviest drinkers. The article also illustrates how the results from a population survey can be used in order to identify specific challenges and solutions for alcohol prevention in a given population. The results help in identifying the population groups and situations with an elevated risk of alcohol-related harm and in characterising the drinking patterns and social situations in which drinking takes place in these vulnerable parts of the population. Conclusions: The review illustrates that a many-sided understanding of alcohol consumption and the related harm, based on survey results, is more far-reaching in terms of prevention and policy than a knowledge base built solely on register data on the development of alcohol consumption and harm. For example, the respondents’ drinking patterns are linked not only to their attitudes and risk perceptions but also to what people consider to be appropriate means to reduce alcohol use and the related harm in terms of alcohol policy, informal social control and people’s life management.

Evaluation of Australia’s first older adult-specific early intervention for reducing alcohol-related harm

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Bright ◽  
Cylie M. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

The aim of the present case study was to evaluate the service-wide implementation of Australia’s first older adult-specific early intervention called Older Wiser Lifestyles (OWL). OWL was designed to reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm among people identified as being at risk. OWL used the Australian Alcohol-Related Problems Survey (A-ARPS) to classify people’s drinking patterns as non-hazardous, hazardous or harmful. Participants of the present study were aged ≥60 years and consumed alcohol in the past month, although they did not require treatment for dependence. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption (AUDIT-C) was used as a composite measure of alcohol consumption. Data were collected before intervention and 3 and 6 months after intervention. In all, 140 clients were screened and attended at least one appointment (54% male; mean (± s.d.) age 72.8±7.6 years). Generalised estimating equation (GEE) examined the correlations between the intervention groups, time point and outcomes of interest. At 6 months, significant reductions were observed in A-ARPS classification (P=0.001) and AUDIT-C scores (P=0.001) among all clients, regardless of the number of sessions or intervention group. These preliminary findings warrant a randomised clinical trial of the intervention. Until this is completed, Australian health care providers should still consider the early intervention to reduce the risk of alcohol consumption among older adults. What is known about this topic? Older Australians are increasingly drinking alcohol at levels that place them at risk of experiencing harm. Although early interventions have been developed overseas that have been shown to reduce risky drinking among older adults, no such program has been implemented in Australia. What does this paper add? We developed an early intervention program (OWL) that drew from and extended intervention protocols developed overseas. In particular, we added harm reduction as a component of the intervention. Harm reduction interventions do not appear to have been evaluated among older adults. The OWL program was evaluated and found to be associated with decreased levels of alcohol-related harm. What are the implications for practitioners? Older adults have different needs when it comes to considering risk of alcohol-related harm. Many are taking medications that interact with alcohol or have comorbid conditions that can be exacerbated by alcohol or more difficult to treat. Yet, many such individuals are not considered to be at risk due to poor screening among this population. The program we developed takes into account these age-specific factors and has been manualised. As such, it could be implemented by a variety of healthcare workers in numerous settings. We hope that practitioners are interested in trialling the program and that a randomised controlled trial is conducted to establish the efficacy of the program.

scholarly journals Alcohol-related injury admission trends in adolescents: A comparison between Western Australia and England

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa O'Donnell ◽  
Scott Sims ◽  
Miriam Maclean ◽  
Arturo Gonzalez-Izquierdo ◽  
Ruth Gilbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Unintentional Injury ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Injury Rates ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

ABSTRACTObjectivesThis study aims to determine trends in hospital admissions for alcohol-related injuries among young people in Western Australia and England and whether these admissions are intentionally or unintentionally caused. In addition, this study examines variation in trends by sex and age-groups to determine groups most at risk. ApproachAnnual incidence rates for alcohol-related injury rates were calculated using hospital admissions data for Western Australia and England. We compared trends in different types of alcohol-related injury by age and gender. ResultsAlcohol-related injuries have increased significantly from 1980-2009 (from 2 to 12 per 10,000). Conversely, alcohol-related injury rates have declined in England since 2007. In England self-harm is the most frequently recorded cause of alcohol-related injury. In Western Australia, unintentional injury is most common, however violence-related harm is increasing for boys and girls. Boys aged 16-17 in Western Australia had the highest rate of alcohol-related injury (27.1/10,000), which was markedly higher than for 16-17 year old girls in Western Australia (16.6/10,000), girls in England (14.1/10,000), or boys in England (13.2/10,000). ConclusionAlcohol-related harm is a significant public health issue, and in Western Australia there is a concerning trend of increasing alcohol-related injuries among young people. Alcohol-related harm of sufficient severity to require hospital admission is increasing among adolescents in Western Australia. Declining trends in England suggests this trend is not inevitable or irreversible. More needs to be done to address alcohol-related harm, and ongoing monitoring is required to assess the effectiveness of strategies.

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