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Changes in alcohol policies and public opinions in F inland 2003–2013
Author(s) -
Österberg Esa,
Lindeman Mikaela,
Karlsson Thomas
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.12128
Subject(s) - alcohol , context (archaeology) , excise , alcohol consumption , public opinion , public policy , consumption (sociology) , duty , alcohol content , political science , business , environmental health , psychology , medicine , politics , law , sociology , geography , social science , chemistry , biochemistry , archaeology
There is a constant and ongoing interplay between public opinions and public policies, alcohol policies being no exception. This article describes the development of public opinions regarding alcohol policy in F inland during a 10‐year period between 2003 and 2013. Fluctuations in the alcohol policy opinion climate are put in context by looking at concurrent changes in alcohol policies and in total alcohol consumption. Data and Methods The study is based on data from opinion surveys on alcohol policies commissioned by the N ational I nstitute for H ealth and W elfare and the F innish S ocial and H ealth A ssociation. The opinion polls include questions about the general acceptance of prevailing alcohol policies, appropriate sales channels of different alcoholic beverage categories and opinions about the legal age limits and prices of alcoholic beverages. In the study, changes in alcohol policy during 2003–2013 are surveyed, and their relationship with changes in alcohol policy opinion is examined. Results There seem to be a strong positive correlation during the study period between the level of alcohol consumption and the share of those wanting a more restrictive alcohol policy in F inland. Discussion It seems that an increased level of awareness of alcohol‐related issues among the general public created a more restrictive opinion climate on alcohol policy issues after the big alcohol excise duty decrease in 2004. The reverse seems to happen but in a lesser degree when alcohol excise duties has been increased after the year 2007. [Österberg E, Lindeman M, Karlsson T. Changes in alcohol policies and public opinions in F inland 2003–2013. Drug Alcohol Rev 2014;33:242–248]