Minimum Alcohol Prices and Outlet Densities in British Columbia, Canada: Estimated Impacts on Alcohol-Attributable Hospital Admissions

Stockwell, Tim; Zhao, Jinhui; Martin, Gina; Macdonald, Scott; Vallance, Kate; Treno, Andrew J.; Ponicki, William R.; Tu, Albert; Buxton, Jane A.

doi:10.2105/ajph.2013.301289

Cited by 113 publications

(137 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In addition, although there is a limited research base for assessing the effectiveness of this strategy for reducing use and problems, Stockwell et al (2012) suggested that some reductions in sales and use followed from an increase in the minimum purchase price recently implemented in Alberta, Canada. Subsequent analyses of British Columbia data produced similar results (Stockwell et al, 2013).…”

Section: Alcohol Pricing and Taxesmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…More recently, another series of studies conducted in British Columbia provided insight into what happens in the wake of privatization. Specifi cally, the introduction of large numbers of stores resulting from partial privatization was associated with increases in alcohol consumption (Stockwell et al, 2009), alcohol-related mortality (Stockwell et al, 2011), and lower alcohol prices (Treno et al, 2013). On the other hand, there have been contrary fi ndings (Mulford et al, 1992;Trolldal, 2005aTrolldal, , 2005b.…”

Section: Privatization Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review of Alcohol and Other Drug Control Policy Research

Treno

Marzell

Gruenewald

et al. 2014

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs Suppl.

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ABSTRACT. Objective:This article provides a historical review of alcohol and other drug policy research and its impact on public health over the past 75 years. We begin our summary with the state of the fi eld circa 1940 and trace the development across the subsequent decades. We summarize current thinking and suggest possible future directions the fi eld of alcohol and other drug policy may take. Specifi c topics discussed include the minimum legal drinking age, pricing and taxation, hours and days of sale, outlet density, and privatization effects. The future of drug policy research is also considered. Method: A comprehensive search of the literature identifi ed empirical studies, reviews, and commentaries of alcohol and other drug policy research published from 1940 to 2013 that contributed to the current state of the fi eld. Results: Our review demonstrates the historical emergence of alcohol problems as a public health issue over the early part of the 20th century, the public health policy response to this issue, subsequent research, and current and future research trends. Conclusions: Alcohol and other drug policy research over the last several decades has made great strides in its empirical and theoretical sophistication of evaluating alcohol policy effects. This history is not only remarkable for its analytic complexity, but also for its conceptual sophistication. MethodTo accomplish our goal, we fi rst conducted a comprehensive search of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (and its previous iterations, the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol and the Journal of Studies on Alcohol), identifying empirical studies, reviews, and commentaries of alcohol and other drug policy research published from 1940 to 2013. We also included notable articles from other sources that further supported the importance of alcohol and other drug policy research for the improvement of public health. Although this review centers on alcohol and other drug policy research within the United States, we have also examined research from other countries as well. The scope of this review focused primarily on articles that highlighted alcohol-control policies such as the minimum legal drinking age, pricing and taxation, hours and days of sale, outlet density, and privatization effects; and policies aimed at reducing heavy alcohol consumption and related problems.

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Section: Alcohol Pricing and Taxesmentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Privatization Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Alcohol and Other Drug Control Policy Research

Treno

Marzell

Gruenewald

et al. 2014

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs Suppl.

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“…Extensive modelling by the University of Sheffield 6 and studies from Canada 7,8 (where this policy has been introduced in several provinces) have both highlighted the benefits of setting a minimum unit price in reducing alcohol consumption, hospital admissions, and deaths caused by alcohol. This is currently the top alcohol policy recommendation from the UK public health community, 9 with the aim of increasing the price of the cheapest drinks that are often chosen by the heaviest drinkers and underage ones.…”

Section: What Work In Reducing Alcohol-related Harm and What Barriermentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol control strategies: the gap between evidence and practice

Gilmore

Gilmore²

2013

Br J Gen Pract

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The problem 'Intoxicating liquor creates lawlessness, makes criminals, wrecks homes and brings trouble to innocent women and children.' This quote from Thomas Jordan Jarvis is as true now as it was in the 19th century. While our consumption per capita in the UK has not quite reached Victorian levels, it has more than doubled since World War II and alcohol-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths are now at an all-time high. Representatives of the drinks industry are quick to point out that data from national surveys have shown a fall over the past few years (during the financial downturn) in consumption figures. However, this has coincided with increasing ethnic diversity and more abstainers in the UK population, and those that are drinking are doing so in a more harmful way. It is also well known that there is a marked disparity between alcohol consumption figures from self-reported national surveys and from alcohol sales data. It has been estimated by Just as with tobacco, there is strong evidence that changes in price affect the amount of alcohol consumed and the levels of harm seen in that population. Regulating the physical availability of alcohol has been also shown to be an effective public health intervention. This includes measures such as placing restrictions on the hours and days of sale of alcohol and on the density of licensed premises in an area but also improving the enforcement of prohibiting sales to underage drinkers and those already intoxicated. Measures such as random breath testing and lowering blood alcohol concentration limits for driving have been shown to reduce alcoholrelated road crashes in many countries. A study by RAND Europe 4 showed that 10-15 year-olds in the UK are exposed to more television advertising than adults, and the evidence base shows that alcohol advertising is having an adverse effect, particularly on adolescent alcohol use. 5 The existing industry self-regulation of alcohol advertising in the UK is clearly inadequate.A recent example where the evidence is strongly in favour of public health intervention is setting a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in the UK, where a minimum price would be set for every unit of alcohol sold. Extensive modelling by the University of Sheffield 6 and studies from Canada 7,8 (where this policy has been introduced in several provinces) have both highlighted the benefits of setting a minimum unit price in reducing alcohol consumption, hospital admissions, and deaths caused by alcohol. This is currently the top alcohol policy recommendation from the UK public health community, 9 with the aim of increasing the price of the cheapest drinks that are often chosen by the heaviest drinkers and underage ones. This policy would affect the heavily discounted drinks available in off-licences and large supermarket chains rather than the price of a pint of beer or glass of wine in a pub, bar, or restaurant. Within the UK, the Scottish Government has passed MUP into law but is still embroiled in legal challenges from the Scotch Whisky Association a...

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“…12 Research indicates that reducing the density of these packaged liquor outlets may decrease harmful levels of alcohol consumption, especially in socially disadvantaged and/or lower socioeconomic status groups and young people. 13 There is a clear and strong relationship between the relative price of alcohol and alcohol consumption (including risky and hazardous consumption).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 Conversely, increased alcoholic beverage taxes and prices are related to reductions in alcohol use and related problems, 14 and significant health benefits have been observed when minimum alcohol prices are increased. 12 A recent survey in WA demonstrated that cheap liquor availability (typical of liquor superstores) influences increased alcohol purchase frequency, purchase quantity and consumption frequency and quantity. The purchase and consumption patterns of 18-29 year olds were most impacted by the availability of cheap alcohol.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%