Abstract
Aim: From 2005 to 2009, increased support for restrictive alcohol policy measures was observed in the Norwegian population. This article addresses whether this increase was mediated by changes in belief about the effectiveness of restrictive measures and belief about the harm caused by drinking. Method: The data were derived from five surveys conducted during the period 2005–2009 (N = 7244). In each survey, we used identical measures of attitudes towards regulation of price and availability, belief in the effectiveness of such measures and belief in the association between overall consumption and harm. Results: During the period, there was an increase in support for restrictive policy measures; in belief in the effectiveness of these measures and in belief in the harm caused by drinking. Increased support for restrictive measures was partly mediated by changes in beliefs in terms of statistically significant indirect effects from both belief in the effectiveness of such measures and belief in the harm caused by drinking. Half of the increased support for restrictive measures could be attributed to changes in beliefs. Conclusion: Strengthening people’s belief in the effectiveness of restrictive measures and in the harm caused by drinking may increase public support for restrictive alcohol policy measures.
Highlights
Public opinion on alcohol policy issues has received increasing attention from research over the past two decades (Greenfield et al, 2004; Tobin et al, 2011)
In Norway and Finland, it has been shown that support for restrictive measures increased during the period around and after the millennium (Holmila et al, 2009; Nordlund, 2007; Österberg, 2007; Østhus, 2005; Storvoll et al, 2010a, 2010b), whereas in North America and Australia support for such measures decreased during this period (Giesbrecht et al, 2001, 2007; Greenfield et al, 2004, 2007a, 2007b; Wilkinson et al, 2009)
Changes in attitudes towards restrictive alcohol policy measures have been revealed in different areas and in different periods, we know little about what may bring about such changes
Summary
Public opinion on alcohol policy issues has received increasing attention from research over the past two decades (Greenfield et al, 2004; Tobin et al, 2011). One of the questions raised in the research literature is how and why support for – and thereby the legitimacy of – central alcohol policy measures may change over time. Changes in attitudes towards restrictive alcohol policy measures have been revealed in different areas and in different periods, we know little about what may bring about such changes. This article addresses whether changes in attitudes towards restrictive alcohol policy measures in Norway during the period 2005–2009 (Storvoll et al, 2010a, 2010b) can be explained by changes in beliefs. One central idea in social psychology is that beliefs are the main building block of attitudes in the sense that attitudes are formed and changed
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