The impact of an integrated alcohol policy: The example of Lithuania.

Abstract

Although integrated alcohol policies, characterised by being consistent, structurally connected and interdependent, are considered to be best practices, very few evaluations of such policies exist. We evaluated the impact of two phases of integrated alcohol policies implemented in Lithuania in 2008/2009 and 2017/2018 on adult (15+ years of age) alcohol per capita consumption. Alcohol per capita consumption was the main outcome, based on national data from Statistics Lithuania. Time-series analyses using generalised additive mixed models were used, and unrecorded consumption trends were examined. A sensitivity analysis was conducted with data from the World Health Organization. The two phases of integrated alcohol policies were associated with average reductions in adult alcohol per capita consumption of almost 1 litre (-0.88 L; 95% confidence interval -1.43; -0.34). Sensitivity analyses with comparable international data on Lithuania yielded similar results. Integrated alcohol policies had a substantial effect on the average level of consumption. However, the effect of major single policies for Lithuania and other Baltic countries has been estimated to be of about the same magnitude. We conclude that in order to be successful, integrated alcohol policies should include at least one major effective population-based policy.