Scott Macdonald1, Tim Stockwell, Jiesu Luo. 1. Centre for Addictions Research of BC and School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, BC, Canada. scottmac@uvic.ca
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Approval of alcohol policies by the public in democratic countries is critical for instituting social change. With respect to alcohol policies, mounting research indicates that a higher price per unit of ethanol is an effective approach for reducing alcohol-related problems, yet surveys have found this approach is usually unpopular. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between amount of drinking and support for various alcohol policies. DESIGN AND METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted on the Canadian Addictions Survey, a randomised telephone survey of over 10 000 Canadians. The relationship between the amounts of drinking reported by the respondents was examined in relation to the perceived seriousness of alcohol problems in their communities and the endorsement of several alcohol policies. RESULTS: Increased amount of drinking was significantly related to lower perceptions of drinking-related risks. Furthermore, heavier consumers had less favourable attitudes than lighter drinkers and abstainers toward alcohol policies, such as increased taxation. Aggregated data across the 10 Canadian provinces showed a strong effect size (r = -0.515, P = 0.128) between endorsement of alcohol taxation and rates of hospital separations for alcohol. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study show that the more that people drink, the more they oppose taxation. The implications of these findings are that as alcohol problems in communities become worse, the population may become more resistant to effective alcohol policies. Strategies are suggested for implementing effective policies.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Approval of alcohol policies by the public in democratic countries is critical for instituting social change. With respect to alcohol policies, mounting research indicates that a higher price per unit of ethanol is an effective approach for reducing alcohol-related problems, yet surveys have found this approach is usually unpopular. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between amount of drinking and support for various alcohol policies. DESIGN AND METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted on the Canadian Addictions Survey, a randomised telephone survey of over 10 000 Canadians. The relationship between the amounts of drinking reported by the respondents was examined in relation to the perceived seriousness of alcohol problems in their communities and the endorsement of several alcohol policies. RESULTS: Increased amount of drinking was significantly related to lower perceptions of drinking-related risks. Furthermore, heavier consumers had less favourable attitudes than lighter drinkers and abstainers toward alcohol policies, such as increased taxation. Aggregated data across the 10 Canadian provinces showed a strong effect size (r = -0.515, P = 0.128) between endorsement of alcohol taxation and rates of hospital separations for alcohol. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study show that the more that people drink, the more they oppose taxation. The implications of these findings are that as alcohol problems in communities become worse, the population may become more resistant to effective alcohol policies. Strategies are suggested for implementing effective policies.
Authors: Tim Stockwell; Jinhui Zhao; Norman Giesbrecht; Scott Macdonald; Gerald Thomas; Ashley Wettlaufer Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2012-10-18 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Tim Stockwell; Jinhui Zhao; Gina Martin; Scott Macdonald; Kate Vallance; Andrew Treno; William Ponicki; Andrew Tu; Jane Buxton Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-04-18 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Jessica Li; Melanie Lovatt; Douglas Eadie; Fiona Dobbie; Petra Meier; John Holmes; Gerard Hastings; Anne Marie MacKintosh Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2017-01-25 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Ashini Weerasinghe; Nour Schoueri-Mychasiw; Kate Vallance; Tim Stockwell; David Hammond; Jonathan McGavock; Thomas K Greenfield; Catherine Paradis; Erin Hobin Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-01-07 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Jenny Tindall; Daniel Groombridge; John Wiggers; Karen Gillham; Darren Palmer; Tara Clinton-McHarg; Christophe Lecathelinais; Peter Miller Journal: Drug Alcohol Rev Date: 2015-09-01