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Trends in public opinion on alcohol issues during a period of increasing access to alcohol: O ntario, C anada, 1996–2011
Author(s) -
Ialomiteanu Anca R.,
Giesbrecht Norman,
Adlaf Edward M.,
Wettlaufer Ashley
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.12130
Subject(s) - status quo , alcohol , public opinion , government (linguistics) , logistic regression , control (management) , public policy , business , demographic economics , psychology , environmental health , demography , political science , medicine , politics , economics , sociology , law , chemistry , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , management
Abstract Introduction and Aims The aim of our paper is to present trend data concerning public opinion on alcohol policy in the C anadian province of O ntario over a 16‐year period (1996–2011), to assess if the level of support for alcohol control policies changed over this period and if any changes in public support for alcohol policy parallel real changes in alcohol distribution in Ontario. Design and Methods Selected policy‐related items from 10 probability surveys of O ntario adults were analysed by means of logistic regression. Results A significant decline was found for attitudes supporting restricting corner stores sales and government control of liquor stores. A weaker decline was seen for attitudes towards reducing the number of places to buy alcohol. However, an increasing trend for attitudes favouring the status quo or greater control through taxes and hours of sale was found. There was no significant trend for attitudes towards maintaining the current level or reducing the number of liquor or beer stores. While there was some variation in trends in support by demographic characteristics and drinking level, not one sector stood out. Discussion and Conclusions A gradual erosion of support is evident and concurrent with gradual increase in access to alcohol in O ntario during the time‐period under study. The decline in support for alcohol control measures seems to be a general rather than a focused development. It appears that this was largely due to a shift in a greater percentage supporting the status quo, not a move towards increasing access to alcohol.