Unregistered alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in Sweden, 2001-2005
Engelsk titel: Unregistered alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in Sweden, 2001-2005
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Författare:
Norström T
;
Ramstedt M
Email: totto@sofi.su.se
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 17
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 08083013
Sammanfattning
Background and aim
During recent years unregistered
alcohol consumption has increased
markedly in Sweden, and the
market share of the State Monopoly
(Systembolaget) has decreased. The
sales through Systembolaget are
regulated by strict rules. Further,
previous research suggests that
the intake of unregistered alcohol is
associated with a more risky drinking
pattern. We test the hypothesis
that the larger the market share
of Systembolaget, the lower the
prevalence of alcohol-related harm. We
also address a related issue, namely
whether alcohol-related harm responds
differently to different components of
total alcohol consumption (registered
and various forms of unregistered).
Data and method
Data on consumption of various forms
of unregistered alcohol consumption
were obtained from monthly surveys.
Registered consumption was gauged
by sales data from Systembolaget. The
harm indicators included two alcoholrelated
crime indicators (police-reported
assaults and drink driving offences),
and two indicators on admission to
treatment for alcohol-related diagnoses.
The montly data were aggregated into
quarterly observations separately for
southern Sweden, mid-Sweden and northern Sweden. The study
period was Q1 2001- Q4
2005. In addition to regional
analyses, the data were
analyzed by means of timeseries
analyses (ARIMAmodels).
Findings
The findings did not suggest
that a high market share
for Systembolaget would be
associated with lower rates
of alcohol-related harm.
As to the effects of the
various components of total
consumption on harm, there
was no systematic pattern
implying that any specific
component would carry a
greater risk than any other
- most of the estimates
were insignificant. However,
all harm indicators
responded significantly
to the comprehensive
consumption indicator
(including unregistered
consumption as well as
Systembolaget’s sales),
suggesting that total
consumption still matters.