The frequency of drinking in different sites in different Nordic areas, and the effects on it of changes in alcohol availability

Abstract

The site of drinking, as reported in population surveys in 2003 and 2004, was studied in Denmark, Finland and two areas of Sweden, in the north and the south. The aim of the study is to see whether there were differences in main sites of drinking between the four sites; to examine the effect of changes in price and availability due to major reductions in alcohol taxes in Finland and Denmark as well as increased traveler’s quotas on frequency of drinking in different sites; to see whether this effect varied for heavier drinkers; and to measure the stability of frequency of drinking in particular sites. The changes in availability affected Finland, Denmark and the southern area of Sweden. The north of Sweden is used as a control, as it was relatively unaffected by these changes. Probability samples aged 16-69 years were collected from all four sites through telephone interviews and postal questionnaires. The context questions concerned the frequency of drinking in restaurants or taverns, in the respondent’s own home, and in another person’s home. The most frequent location of drinking was usually one’s own home, particularly for those aged 30 and over. For younger Danes and Swedes, drinking in restaurants and other’s homes were also relatively frequent contexts for drinking. There were thus some differences between different Nordic areas in frequencies of drinking in different sites. However, there were few signs of substantial change between 2003 and 2004 in rates of drinking regularly in any of the contexts. Despite the changes in price and availability, the pre-existing differences in contexts of drinking thus stayed largely intact. This was true also among heavier drinkers. While there was substantial stability in all geographic areas between 2003 and 2004 in each respondent’s reported frequency of drinking in his or her own home, there was considerable variability from one year to the other in the frequencies of drinking in restaurants and on another’s house.