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Project

Evaluating Alcohol Control Policies in Peru and St. Kitts and Nevis
 

Peru
West Indies
Project ID
107205
Total Funding
CAD 498,700.00
IDRC Officer
Roberto Bazzani
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
36 months

Lead institution(s)

Project leader:
Dr. Maristela Monteiro
United States

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.

Research outputs

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Article
Language:

English

Summary

The paper draws on data from six participating countries of the International Alcohol Control Study to examine and evaluate their comparative prices and tax regimes. Both ad valorem and specific per unit of alcohol taxation systems are represented among the six countries. The prices differ widely between countries even though presented in terms of Purchasing Power Parity. The percentage of tax in the final price also varies widely but is much lower than the 75% goal set by the World Health Organization. There is a higher proportion of abstainers in middle-income countries and men drink much more alcohol than women.

Author(s)
Wall, Martin
Article
Language:

English

Summary

To investigate behaviours related to four alcohol policy variables (policy-relevant behaviours) and demographic variables in relation to typical quantities of alcohol consumed on-premise in six International Alcohol Control study countries. Design and methods: General population surveys with drinkers using a comparable survey instrument and data analysed using path analysis in an overall model and for each country. Measures: typical quantities per occasion consumed on-premise; gender, age; years of education, prices paid, time of purchase, time to access alcohol and liking for alcohol advertisements. Results: In the overall model younger people, males and those with fewer years of education consumed larger typical quantities. Overall lower prices paid, later time of purchase and liking for alcohol ads predicted consuming larger typical quantities; this was found in the high-income countries, less consistently in the high-middle-income countries and not in the low middle-income country. Three policy-relevant behaviours (prices paid, time of purchase, liking for alcohol ads) mediated the relationships between age, gender, education and consumption in high-income countries. Discussion and conclusions: International Alcohol Control survey data showed a relationship between policy-relevant behaviours and typical quantities consumed and support the likely effect of policy change (trading hours, price and restrictions on marketing) on heavier drinking. The path analysis also revealed policy-relevant behaviours were significant mediating variables between the effect of age, gender and educational status on consumption. However, this relationship is clearest in high-income countries. Further research is required to understand better how circumstances in low-middle-income countries impact effects of policies

Author(s)
Casswell, Sally
Article
Language:

English

Summary

Surveys of drinkers in the International Alcohol Control study in high-income and middle-income countries were analysed. On-premise purchasing (bars, night clubs, restaurants) was prevalent in the high-income countries. However, the vast majority of alcohol consumed in all countries, except St Kitts and Nevis (high-income), was bought from alcohol shops (“take-away”or “take-out”). The trading hours of premises are a key availability policy lever. Studies have shown the impacts of changes to trading hours. With this study complementary data is presented, quantifying at what times drinkers purchase alcohol, including late purchase. Time taken to access alcohol may also be a useful measure of availability.

Author(s)
Gray-Phillip, Gaile
Article
Language:

English

Summary

The International Alcohol Control (IAC) Study collects and analyses detailed information regarding alcohol-related health and economic burdens, and the potential effectiveness of various measures, using two research tools – an extensive survey of the drinking population and a protocol for an analysis of the alcohol policy environment. The article focuses on IAC work and results, which provide an important baseline of local data that countries can utilize to initiate public debate and policy dialogue, and on which they can build when policy interventions are considered. The IDRC IAC data collection comprises selected low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Author(s)
Lecours, Natacha
Article
Language:

English

Summary

The International Alcohol Control (IAC) Study is a multi-country collaborative project to assess patterns of alcohol consumption and the impact of alcohol control policy. The aim of this paper is to report the methods and implementation of the IAC. Results show that IAC instruments are readily adapted for cross-country use. The IAC methodology has provided survey data on key measures of alcohol consumption (quantity, frequency and volume), and aspects of policy-relevant behaviour and policy implementation. The IAC survey was administered via computer-assisted interview. Data was collected via document review, administrative or commercial data and key informant interviews.

Author(s)
Huckle, Taisia
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