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How do public health policies tackle alcohol-related harm: a review of 12 developed countries.
Alcohol Alcohol. 2007 Sep-Oct; 42(5):492-9.AA

Abstract

AIMS

To identify how current public health policies of 12 developed countries assess alcohol-related problems, the goals and targets that are set and the strategic directives proposed.

METHODS

Policy documents on alcohol and on general public heath were obtained through repeated searches of government websites. Documents were reviewed by two independent observers.

RESULTS

All the countries studied state that alcohol causes substantial harm to individual health and family well-being, increases crime and social disruption, and results in economic loss through lost productivity. All are concerned about consumption of alcohol by young adults and by heavy and problem drinkers. Few aim to reduce total consumption. Only five of the countries set specific targets for changes in drinking behaviour. Countries vary in their commitment to intervene, particularly on taxation, drink-driving, the drinking environment and for high-risk groups. Australia and New Zealand stand out as having coordinated intervention programmes in most areas.

CONCLUSIONS

Policies differ markedly in their organization, the goals and targets that are set, the strategic approaches proposed and areas identified for intervention. Most countries could improve their policies by following the recommendations in the World Heath Organization's European Alcohol Action Plan.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Crombie IK
Department of Public Health, University of Dundee, Mackenzie Building, Kirsty Semple Way, Dundee, Scotland, UK. i.k.crombie@chs.dundee.ac.uk
Irvine L
No affiliation info available
Elliott L
No affiliation info available
Wallace H
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Alcohol DrinkingAlcohol-Related DisordersAlcoholic BeveragesAlcoholismAutomobile DrivingData CollectionHealth EducationHealth PlanningHealth PolicyHumansLegislation as TopicMarketingRiskRisk-TakingTaxesWounds and Injuries

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17341517

Citation

Crombie, Iain K., et al. "How Do Public Health Policies Tackle Alcohol-related Harm: a Review of 12 Developed Countries." Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), vol. 42, no. 5, 2007, pp. 492-9.
Crombie IK, Irvine L, Elliott L, et al. How do public health policies tackle alcohol-related harm: a review of 12 developed countries. Alcohol Alcohol. 2007;42(5):492-9.
Crombie, I. K., Irvine, L., Elliott, L., & Wallace, H. (2007). How do public health policies tackle alcohol-related harm: a review of 12 developed countries. Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 42(5), 492-9.
Crombie IK, et al. How Do Public Health Policies Tackle Alcohol-related Harm: a Review of 12 Developed Countries. Alcohol Alcohol. 2007 Sep-Oct;42(5):492-9. PubMed PMID: 17341517.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - How do public health policies tackle alcohol-related harm: a review of 12 developed countries. AU - Crombie,Iain K, AU - Irvine,Linda, AU - Elliott,Lawrence, AU - Wallace,Hilary, Y1 - 2007/03/06/ PY - 2007/3/8/pubmed PY - 2008/1/3/medline PY - 2007/3/8/entrez SP - 492 EP - 9 JF - Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) JO - Alcohol Alcohol VL - 42 IS - 5 N2 - AIMS: To identify how current public health policies of 12 developed countries assess alcohol-related problems, the goals and targets that are set and the strategic directives proposed. METHODS: Policy documents on alcohol and on general public heath were obtained through repeated searches of government websites. Documents were reviewed by two independent observers. RESULTS: All the countries studied state that alcohol causes substantial harm to individual health and family well-being, increases crime and social disruption, and results in economic loss through lost productivity. All are concerned about consumption of alcohol by young adults and by heavy and problem drinkers. Few aim to reduce total consumption. Only five of the countries set specific targets for changes in drinking behaviour. Countries vary in their commitment to intervene, particularly on taxation, drink-driving, the drinking environment and for high-risk groups. Australia and New Zealand stand out as having coordinated intervention programmes in most areas. CONCLUSIONS: Policies differ markedly in their organization, the goals and targets that are set, the strategic approaches proposed and areas identified for intervention. Most countries could improve their policies by following the recommendations in the World Heath Organization's European Alcohol Action Plan. SN - 0735-0414 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/17341517/How_do_public_health_policies_tackle_alcohol_related_harm:_a_review_of_12_developed_countries_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -