Alcohol policy, consumption and alcohol related harm in Europe: Further development of comparative studies

Research problem and specific questions While Europe is one of the regions with the highest alcohol consumption in the world, there are major differences in alcohol use and alcohol related harm between European countries. Previous comparative studies have analyzed variations to understand importance of alcohol policies.

However, major changes in policies and drinking habits have occurred in recent years, and there are also new methods for analyzing both policy, consumption and disease burden.

Thus an updated study on alcohol policy, alcohol consumption and alcohol related harm, using improved methods is needed.Data and methodWe will use a scale for assessing alcohol policy in countries, developed by Finnish researchers and recently updated.

Consumption data as well as data on burden of disease will be extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database for all EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and UK. Data will be analyzed for the period 1990-2020.

Burden of alcohol related harm will be assessed by using data on alcohol related mortality as well DALYs (Disability adjusted life years).

The data in the GBD system ensures comparability over time as well as between countries.Plan for project realisationThe core team consists of senior researchers from Sweden, Finland, Netherlands and Italy, with experience from GBD studies, and similar comparative studies. One FTE will be hired to collect data on alcohol policy from the different countries according to a specific protocol.

The NORDAN and EUROCARE networks will be helpful in finding and translating information on alcohol policy.

One FTE will be hired to extract data from the GBD database on alcohol consumption and alcohol related harm in the different countries.

Timelines will be constructed to relate policy to consumption and level of harm in different countries.RelevanceComparison of alcohol policy and level of consumption, in relation to alcohol related harm, has been important in understanding drivers of alcohol problems and alcohol related harm, since randomised controlled studies are not possible.

Major changes have occurred in European countries in recent years, so findings from previous comparative studies need to be updated.

The combination of the alcohol policy scale with alcohol related harm based on GBD data has not been performed in previous comparative studies. Close contact will be held with stakeholders and end users of alcohol policy information in Sweden and Europe.