Do infrastructures impact on alcohol policy making?

Abstract

IntroductionThe importance of building and strengthening effective infrastructures within the field of public health has increasingly been recognized. A wide variety of actors and structures can be identified for alcohol policy, including systems for policy development, monitoring, research and work-force development, but too little is known about the complex systems of infrastructure available across European countries and their impact on alcohol policy. Objective This study is part of the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA) project, and aims to map existing infrastructures, but also to examine the relationship between infrastructures and alcohol policy change. Methods A survey of alcohol policy infrastructure and infrastructure needs at the national level will be conducted using an updated and adapted questionnaire based on the Health Promotion (HP) Source Project tool. Case studies involving in-depth interviews will be conducted for a selection of countries. Data will be analysed descriptively, mapping alcohol policy infrastructure and identifying needs to reveal any relationship between infrastructure and alcohol policy. Expected results This study can contribute to building the scientific knowledge base on this topic as well to policy development. First, the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance will produce an extended map of alcohol policy infrastructures in a wide range of European countries. Secondly, the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance will foster a better understanding and expand the knowledge base on the role and influence of infrastructure on alcohol policy and practice. Recommendations deriving from this study will identify the need for better utilization of existing infrastructures and for the development of new infrastructures, necessary to develop and implement effective alcohol policy from a public health perspective.

Contextual Determinants of Alcohol Consumption Changes and Preventive Alcohol Policies: A 12-Country European Study in Progress

“…Nonetheless, the effectiveness of alcohol consumption policies in controlling the consumption of alcoholic beverages and alcohol-consumption-related harm does have a wellestablished evidence base (Babor et al, 2003;Holder et al, 2000;Holmila, 1997;Norström, 2002;Pridemore & Snowden, 2009;Rehm et al, 2003;Wagenaar, 1986). Existing infrastructures within a country's health sector are a crucial element in implementing preventive alcohol policy programs (König & Segura, 2011).…”

The International Alcohol Control (IAC) Study—Evaluating the Impact of Alcohol Policies

“…International comparisons of policy environments and their impacts will provide greater understanding of the way in which theories underpinning alcohol control policy, such as restrictions on availability and the relationship between price and demand, are affected by national‐level differences such as policy infrastructure (König and Segura, ).…”

Reflections on science and the governance of alcohol policy

“…As the paper in this supplement by Kønig & Segura [19] has shown, for an action plan to reduce alcohol‐related harm to be effective it is necessary to ensure that the requisite infrastructure for policy development, priority‐setting, monitoring and surveillance, research and evaluation, work‐force development and programme delivery is all in place. Despite some advances in building core infrastructure for action on alcohol, it can be argued that there continues to be insufficient political will and investment by both the private and the public sector in many Member States, and ensuring that this infrastructure is sufficiently large and capable remains a challenge.…”