International Alcohol Control Study: Analyses from the first wave.

Sally Casswell

doi:10.1111/dar.12637

Abstract

International Alcohol Control Study: Analyses from the first wave.

Highlights

Alcohol is a leading risk factor for the global burden of disease and contributes to a range of social and economic harms
A non-communicable disease target of 10% relative reduction in alcohol consumption has been established by the World Health Organization (WHO) [2]; alcohol is recognised by the United Nations as a threat to sustainable development [3] and contributes economic costs of approximately 1%–2% of gross domestic product in several countries where these have been assessed [4]
Less groundwork is available in alcohol control, when compared with tobacco, on monitoring and encouraging legislation and implementation of effective alcohol policy

Summary

International Alcohol Control study

The International Alcohol Control (IAC) study had its origins in several discussions with a colleague who participated in the International Tobacco Control (ITC) study [13], Professor Gerard Hastings, about the value of a study similar to the ITC pertaining to alcohol. A proposal was made to the Health Promotion Agency of New Zealand, and in 2010 New Zealand researchers, along with invited researchers from four other countries—three high-income (England, Scotland and Korea) and one middle-income country (Thailand), met in Scotland to plan the IAC; the planning drew on the expertise of staff in the Institute for Social Marketing, University of Stirling, who were participants in the ITC. The International Alcohol Control Study was developed by Casswell et al [14] to provide detailed information on alcohol use, policy relevant behaviours and how these change in response to changing conditions. The International Development Research Centre of Canada has been a important supporter of the IAC, funding participation by four middle-income countries in the full IAC project, and by three African countries in the use of the Alcohol Environment Protocol, and funding training and much of the dissemination to date

Design for policy evaluation

Diverse participating countries

Overview of papers in the Special Issue

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