Evaluating Alcohol Control Policies in Peru and St. Kitts and Nevis
Lead institution(s)
Summary
Alcohol is the world's third largest risk factor for disease burden. It has had a dramatic impact on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in South America and the Caribbean. This project aims to inform policymakers in two countries with emerging alcohol policies: Peru and St.Read more
Alcohol is the world's third largest risk factor for disease burden. It has had a dramatic impact on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in South America and the Caribbean. This project aims to inform policymakers in two countries with emerging alcohol policies: Peru and St. Kitts and Nevis. It is designed to help guide the adoption and effective implementation of policies and programs to address the major risk factors for alcohol misuse. The project has the following specific objectives in Peru and St. Kitts and Nevis: - To measure alcohol consumption patterns; -To document policy-relevant behaviours, including place and time of purchase, prices paid, and exposure and salience of marketing; and, -To analyze the potential effects of pricing policies, operating hours and marketing restrictions, and the availability of alcohol across different population groups. This project is part of the International Alcohol Control (lAC) study. It will use a longitudinal panel design and take advantage of natural experiments in which policy changes are made in one country or locality, and not in another. Researchers will document the alcohol policy environment using the Alcohol Environment Protocol (AEP). The AEP focuses on availability, taxation, and influences on alcohol prices, drinking and driving, and marketing and promotion. They will also conduct a longitudinal survey of individuals at the community level. This lAC survey comprises several outcome measures, such as alcohol consumption and the volume of alcohol consumed, as well as mediating variables which alcohol policy might affect. The project is expected to provide knowledge that will: -offer opportunities for international comparisons; -drive innovation in public policy to prevent alcohol-related disease and injury; and, -reduce alcohol-related harm, which disproportionately affects younger and disadvantaged people. This level of evidence-informed policy can contribute to change that will lead to stronger alcohol control measures to improve population health and reduce health inequities in Peru and St. Kitts and Nevis.