Reduce Alcohol Related Harm Research Articles

Alcohol policy and alcohol-attributed disease burden in Finland and the Baltic countries 1995-2019

Abstract Introduction Alcohol remains a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity in Finland and the Baltic countries, particularly among men. This study aimed to assess alcohol policy restrictiveness in this region from 1995 to 2019 using a modified version of the Bridging the Gap (BtG-M) policy scale and examine its association with alcohol-related disease burden. Methods The study utilised national statutory laws to score policy restrictiveness (higher BtG-M scores mean stricter policies) and age-standardised rates of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs) and deaths per 100,000 from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD). Spearman correlation tests and panel data regression models were applied to assess the association between policy scores and burden of disease. Results Finland maintained a high BtG-M score, while the Baltic countries experienced recent increases from initially lower scores. Alcohol-related disease burden showed an inverse association with policy changes in these countries. Strongest association was seen between the BtG-M score and DALY rates attributed to injuries. Premature mortality among men constituted the largest proportion of disease burden. Discussion and Conclusions Despite challenges in accessing and comparing policy data over time, we showed a strong association between alcohol policy and alcohol-related harm in Finland and the Baltic countries. This study is one of the first to use the BtG-M scale to monitor changes in alcohol policies over time and their relationship to alcohol-related harm using GBD methodology. The study highlights the effects of national alcohol policies on levels of alcohol-related harm. Key messages • This study stands out due to its longitudinal study design, which quantitatively compares the level of alcohol policy restrictiveness in Finland and the Baltic countries from 1995 to 2019. • Our study suggests that shifts towards more restrictive alcohol policies are linked to reduction in alcohol-related harm in Finland and the Baltic countries.

Alcohol Consumption Norms and the Favored Alcohol Consumption Policies of Citizens of Seoul.

The purpose of this study was to define the alcohol consumption norms and attitudes toward alcohol regulation policies among citizens of Seoul and the relationships between such norms and the favored regulatory policies. The study population consisted of 1001 adults aged 19-80 years living in Seoul. We collected demographic data and data on health behaviors, attitudes towards drinking, and preferred alcohol regulation policies. The correlations between drinking and the favored regulatory policies were analyzed. Male, as well as being employed, aged 19-39 years, single, a smoker, and a current or heavy episodic drinker were associated with more positive attitudes toward drinking (all p < 0.001) and less desire for alcohol regulation policies (all p < 0.001). We found a significant negative correlation between attitudes toward drinking and preferred alcohol regulation policies (p < 0.001). Participants who favored reduced or no alcohol consumption and a reduction in alcohol-related harm were more accepting of restrictive alcohol consumption policies. To establish alcohol control polices, differences in drinking norms within populations should be considered. Furthermore, for a successful alcohol control policy, efforts should be made to change drinking norms, as well as consider differences in regulatory policy preferences between population groups.

Safer-use strategies in the context of harm-reduction treatment for people experiencing homelessness and alcohol use disorder

BackgroundTwo, randomized controlled trials found harm-reduction treatment for AUD (HaRT-A) improves alcohol outcomes for adults experiencing homelessness. HaRT-A, which neither requires nor precludes abstinence, entails tracking alcohol-related harm, harm-reduction goals, and safer-use strategies. This secondary dual study qualitatively describes this last component, safer-use strategies, and their quantitative association with treatment outcomes. MethodsParticipants were people who experienced homelessness and AUD and were enrolled in the active HaRT-A treatment arms in 2 randomized control trials (Trial 1 N = 86; Trial 2 N = 208). Trial 1was a 2-arm study with randomization to HaRT-A or services as usual. Trial 2 was a 4-arm study combining HaRT-A and extended release naltrexone. In HaRT-A sessions, participants received a list of 3 categories of safer-use strategies (i.e., buffering alcohol's effects on the body, changing the manner of drinking to be safer and healthier, and reducing alcohol use). Mixed methods were used to qualitatively describe safer-use strategies implemented and quantitatively test their association with alcohol outcomes (i.e., peak quantity, frequency, alcohol-related harm). ResultsIn Trial 1, but not Trial 2, participants committed to more safer-use strategies across time, which was associated with reductions in alcohol frequency over the past 30 days. In both trials, participants committing to reducing alcohol consumption drank on a quarter fewer days overall, and in Trial 2, experienced 15 % less alcohol-related harm. In Trial 1, participants who committed to changing the manner of drinking were heavier drinkers overall, and although they showed significant reductions in alcohol-related harm, their reduction rate was slower than for participants who selected other strategies. In Trial 2, strategies to buffer alcohol's effects were associated with a monthly 14 % decrease of alcohol-related harm. ConclusionThis study replicated prior findings that people experiencing homelessness and AUD regularly adopt strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm. The implementation of safer-use strategies was favorably associated with alcohol outcomes, but specific associations differed by trial and outcome. Discussion of safer-use strategies appears helpful; however, further research is needed to firmly establish how this HaRT-A component works.

Measurement of the self-determination continuum of motivation for engaging in alcohol-related harm reduction behaviors: Improved content coverage of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire.

Self-determination theory (SDT) proposes that people are more likely to engage in behaviors that reduce the harms associated with alcohol use if they do so for more self-determined reasons. There is growing support for this proposal, but the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ), which assesses the self-determination continuum of motivation for engaging in alcohol-related harm reduction behaviors, lacks content coverage. We generated additional items to improve the content coverage of the TSRQ and evaluated its psychometric properties. We also compared two randomly assigned instruction sets that referenced "responsible drinking" or "protective behavioral strategies" (PBS). Participants (n = 2,236) were college students from psychology departments at 10 universities in eight U.S. states who reported past-month alcohol use and completed the revised TSRQ; the online survey was completed for partial course credit. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure representing autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and amotivation for the PBS version. This factor structure was confirmed using exploratory structural equation modeling for both the PBS and responsible drinking versions. Scalar invariance was achieved across instruction sets. Latent mean differences showed that those who received the PBS version had lower autonomous and controlled motivation scores, but higher amotivation scores. Associations of the three TSRQ factors with alcohol-related outcomes were consistent with SDT, and the magnitude of these associations did not differ across instruction sets. More accurate assessment of the self-determination continuum of motivation for alcohol-related harm reduction behaviors will improve research on this topic which has promising implications for alcohol interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Measurement of the Self-Determination Continuum of Motivation for Engaging in Alcohol-Related Harm Reduction Behaviors: Improved Content Coverage of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire

Supplemental Material for Measurement of the Self-Determination Continuum of Motivation for Engaging in Alcohol-Related Harm Reduction Behaviors: Improved Content Coverage of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire

Development of culturally-appropriate text message booster content to follow a brief intervention focused on reducing alcohol related harms for injury patients in Moshi, Tanzania.

Alcohol use is a risk factor for death and disability and is attributed to almost one-third of injury deaths globally. This highlights the need for interventions aimed at alcohol reduction, especially in areas with high rates of injury with concurrent alcohol use, such as Tanzania. The aim of this study is to create a culturally appropriate text messages as a booster to a brief negotiational intervention (BNI), to in the Emergency Department of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania. Creation of text message boosters for an ED-based intervention expands the window of opportunity for alcohol use reduction in this high-risk population. The study followed a two-step approach to create the text message content in English and then translate and culturally adapt to Tanzanian Swahili. The culturalization process followed the World Health Organization's process of translation and adaptation of instruments. Translation, back translation, and qualitative focus groups were used for quality control to ensure text message content accuracy and cultural appropriateness. In total, nearly 50 text messages were initially developed in English, yet only 29 text messages were successfully translated and adapted; they were focused on the themes of Self-awareness, Goal setting and Motivation. We developed culturally appropriate text message boosters in Swahili for injury patients in Tanzania coupled with a BNI for alcohol use reduction. We found it important to evaluate content validation for interventions and measurement tools because the intended text message can often be lost in translation. The process of culturalization is critical in order to create interventions that are applicable and beneficial to the target population. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT02828267, NCT04535011.

Enhancing Campus Safety: Exploring Student Perspectives on a Text Message-Delivered Intervention for Addressing Sexual Violence and Alcohol Use.

Alcohol-related sexual violence, including sexual coercion, nonconsensual contact, and rape, is prevalent on college campuses. The purpose of the study was to investigate college students' feedback and recommendations regarding content for a text-message-delivered harm reduction intervention to jointly address alcohol use and alcohol's role in sexual violence risk. This qualitative thematic study used focus groups and individual interviews to collect feedback from 61 college students between February 2019 and July 2020. Targeted recruitment resulted in a sample that was nearly half queer/ lesbian, gay, bisexual (46.2%) or trans* (9.8%) identified students. Participants endorsed text messaging as an effective way to reach college students but diverged in specific content they felt was relevant and appropriate for a universal education intervention. Students preferred content describing individual strategies versus those requiring collaboration from friends or potential sex partners. Students also preferred content phrased as suggestions or questions versus declarative statements. Although most participants recognized the value of content related to consent, sexual violence, sexual health, and resources, a few male-identifying participants failed to recognize that content as important to their experience. Maintaining brevity while discussing consent in the overlapping settings of drinking and interpersonal relationships was described as a particular challenge. Students in our sample highlighted the challenges of sharing sexual violence and alcohol-related harm reduction text messaging because of the complexities of rape culture, consent, and interpersonal dynamics during college student drinking events.

Meet us where we are: non-Indigenous young peoples’ ideas on how to reduce alcohol-related harm in Mparntwe (Alice Springs)

ObjectiveThis research sought to understand the strategies young people in a remote central Australian town believed would reduce alcohol-related harms amongst their peers. MethodsA total of 38 non-Indigenous residents of Mparntwe (Alice Springs), aged between 14 and 18 years, participated in focus groups at their school. Participants discussed strategies they thought would reduce alcohol-related harms among people their age. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. ResultsParticipants suggested that young peoples’ drinking behaviour developed with peers. Through social learning in peer groups, drinking alcohol was perceived as fun and normal. Participants indicated a willingness to learn about strategies to stay safe around alcohol. Their ideas for doing so reflected their existing social methods of learning about alcohol: having comfortable conversations and storytelling with a small group of peers and a relatable role model. ConclusionsYoung residents of Mparntwe (Alice Springs) advised that alcohol-related harm reduction strategies would be most effective if focussed on safety, rather than abstinence, and applied social-learning strategies. Implications for Public HealthYoung people value their burgeoning self-determination. Youth health interventions must engage youth in intervention co-design and aim to assist young people to make safer decisions, rather than making decisions on their behalf.

Alcohol protective behavioral strategies for young adults: a content analysis across drinking contexts and gender

ABSTRACTBackground: Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are specific harm reduction behaviors which mitigate alcohol-related consequences among young adults. Prior work indicates PBS utilization varies according to drinking context and gender, suggesting a need for further research assessing whether young adults employ unidentified PBS according to such factors.Objectives: This study examined alcohol PBS young adults suggest using across drinking contexts and gender to inform alcohol-related harm reduction interventions.Methods: An online survey with 514 young adult heavy drinkers (n = 269 female, Mage = 22.36 years) assessed PBS use generally, and across 12 physical and social contexts. We utilized qualitative content analysis methods to code and derive themes from open-ended responses from a prompt asking participants to state additional PBS used per context. The frequency of each theme’s appearance was calculated across the overall sample, by gender, and within each context.Results: PBS endorsement varied across context and gender within each theme. Young adults who reported PBS use most frequently endorsed utilizing strategies related to drink content (18.30%), social support (12.36%), and engaging in other activities (10.34%). Participants infrequently endorsed strategies related to awareness of time (0.23%), standards of behavior (0.78%) and avoiding environments (0.87%).Conclusions: Young adults endorse utilizing additional PBS in varying frequency according to drinking context and gender. Given PBS are often a key component of alcohol harm reduction interventions, monitoring trends in young adult PBS use is crucial to ensure continued relevance and efficacy of such interventions to minimize harms associated with young adult heavy alcohol use.

Multifaceted intervention to increase the delivery of alcohol brief interventions in primary care: a mixed-methods process analysis.

Brief interventions (BIs) are effective for reducing harmful alcohol consumption, but their use in primary care is less frequent than clinically indicated. The REducing AlCohol- related Harm (REACH) project aimed to increase the delivery of BIs in primary care. To assess the effectiveness of the REACH programme in increasing alcohol BIs in general practice and explore the implementation factors that improve or reduce uptake by clinicians. This article reports on a sequential, explanatory mixed-methods study of the implementation of the REACH project in six general practice clinics serving low-income communities in Melbourne, Australia. Time-series analyses were conducted using routinely collected patient records and semi-structured interviews, guided by the consolidated framework for implementation research. The six intervention sites significantly increased their rate of recorded alcohol status (56.7% to 60.4%), whereas there was no significant change in the non-intervention practices (344 sites, 55.2% to 56.4%). REACH resources were seen as useful and acceptable by clinicians and staff. National policies that support the involvement of primary care in alcohol harm reduction helped promote ongoing intervention sustainability.

Three years of minimum unit pricing in the Northern Territory, what does the evidence say?

Three years of minimum unit pricing in the Northern Territory, what does the evidence say?

Implementing Wet Services in Montréal for Highly Vulnerable People Experiencing Homelessness who Use Alcohol

Context: People experiencing homelessness and alcohol dependence are highly marginalized as they struggle to access various health and social services. This study is part of a broader feasibility study on the implementation of "wet services" in Montréal, Canada. Methods: Four focus groups were conducted with 20 participants working in the field of homelessness. The objectives of this study were to gather their perspectives on the need for wet services in Montréal, define the main purpose of such services, and identify the key factors promoting their success. Results: All participants felt that wet services could meet several critical needs of many people experiencing homelessness in Montréal, and most argued that they should also be implemented without delay. According to most participants, these services should be grounded in a harm reduction philosophy, take a low-threshold approach and be accessible to the target population at all times. Participants argued that wet services should primarily aim to offer a safe place to consume alcohol whilst also serving as a place where people experiencing homelessness could meet their basic needs, reconnect socially, and access various health and social services. However, participants cited a number of financial, logistical, and organizational constraints, such as control-related mechanisms (e.g., eligibility criteria, rigid bylaws, or the institutionalization and medicalization of services), which they feared could stand in the way of achieving the objectives of wet services or perpetuate the exclusion of people experiencing homelessness. To avoid these potential problems, most participants felt that wet services should be delivered by well-established and well-funded community-based organizations, accompanied by a variety of partnership arrangements, including those with health services. Conclusion: This qualitative study contributes to the growing body of evidence on alcohol-related harm reduction services. Its findings may serve to inform the eventual implementation of wet services in Montréal and in other locations.

The alcohol industry-A commercial determinant of poor health for Rainbow communities.

Alcohol use is an area of challenge for health promotion internationally. The alcohol industry operates as a key commercial determinant of health in that its actions contribute to alcohol misuse, resulting in a range of health and social harms to individuals, families and communities. Rainbow people (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender diverse) are one group experiencing considerable harm from alcohol use. Data from 24 focus groups involving 131 people held in six cities in New Zealand during 2018, were used to explore local understandings of the ways in which the alcohol industry operates as a commercial determinant of health for Rainbow communities. The focus group discussions were analysed thematically. Three key themes were identified. First, the alcohol industry was identified as present in the 'everyday', through targeted alcohol promotion to Rainbow people, and due to the centrality of bars to their social and cultural landscapes. Second, participants recognised the benefits of alcohol industry support for Rainbow communities. Last, an opposing view was articulated, with the alcohol industry and its commercial activities viewed negatively. These findings highlight that alcohol as a commodity and the alcohol industry are successfully and firmly embedded within Rainbow communities. Overall, given alcohol is widely regarded in a positive way, this is likely to create difficulties for health promotion efforts to reduce alcohol related harm in these communities.

The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures.

Over the past several decades, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has nearly doubled, and alcohol has played a major role in the incidence of much of it. Alcohol has also been attributed in deaths due to infectious diseases, intentional and unintentional injuries, digestive diseases, and several other non-communicable diseases, including cancer.The economic costs of alcohol-associated health outcomes are significant at the individual as well as the country level. Risks due to alcohol consumption increase for most cardiovascular diseases, including hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation and flutter, and stroke. The widespread message for over 30 years has been to promote the myth that alcohol prolongs life, chiefly by reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Lack of universal advice and stringent policy measures have contributed towards increased uptake and easy availability of alcohol. The WHO has called for a 10% relative reduction in the harmful use of alcohol between 2013–2025. However, lack of investment in proven alcohol control strategies, as well as persistence of misinformation and industry interference, have hindered the efforts of public health professionals to make sufficient progress in reducing alcohol related harms and death.

Alcohol policy measures are an ignored catalyst for achievement of the sustainable development goals.

By adopting Agenda 2030, governments agreed to review and report on their approach and action for achievement of sustainable development goals annually through the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. Health and well-being are at the heart of the United Nations Agenda 2030. Given the social and economic harm that can be done by alcohol, reducing the consumption of alcohol is a pre-requisite to achieve the sustainable development goals. We explored how selected European countries have considered alcohol-related harm as an obstacle to achievement of SDGs and the extent to which they view alcohol policy as a solution to the achievement of sustainable development by analysing their voluntary national reviews (VNRs) submitted to the HLPF between years 2016 and 2020. We developed our own framework with 260 questions reflecting three dimensions of alcohol-harm considerations: indication, action, and evaluation. We analysed 36 VNRs of 32 European countries by first assessing them against the 260 questions to find out how they report on alcohol harm and whether they, in their action, refer to evidence-based, cost-effective alcohol policy solutions. Afterwards we used content analysis to assess the extent to which the countries addressed alcohol related harm, whether they refer to alcohol harm within SDG 3 (good health and well-being) or look beyond the health goal and consider alcohol harm having impact on goals other than the Goal 3. Nine countries (28.1%) did not mention alcohol in their report. Only eight countries (25%) mentioned one or more of the alcohol policy best buys among the actions they are taking to reduce alcohol related harm and only three (9.3%) explicitly elaborated on their impact on goals other than goal 3. Only five countries referred to the agreed indicator 3.5.2 measuring alcohol per capita consumption in the adult population. Many of the remaining countries used a range of terminology rather than alcohol per capita consumption, including "excessive use of alcohol", "heavy use", "too much alcohol ", "harmful alcohol consumption", "use among young people". Alcohol use is, for example, associated with violence (SDG 5 and 16), it contributes to inequalities (SDG 5 and 10), it hinders economic growth (SDG 8), disrupts sustainable consumption (SDG 12) and it adversely impacts environment (SDG 13 and 14). The findings of this study show that these effects are not considered in the design of measures to achieve these goals. Moreover, inaccurate language related to alcohol harm indicates a gap in understanding of extend of alcohol burden and the consequences for sustainable development. So does the choice of ineffective measures to reduce alcohol consumption. Education programs and awareness raising campaigns focusing on individual lifestyle are neither in line with WHO Global Strategy to reduce the harm caused by alcohol that all selected countries adopted in 2010, nor do they reflect the seriousness of the problems related to alcohol use. Effective alcohol policy measures, so called three best buys, are missing from the transformative action that the Agenda 2030 calls for and governments committed to.

Specific depressive symptoms are related with different patterns of alcohol use in community-dwelling older adults

ObjectivesTo explore how individual depressive symptoms might contribute to different patterns of alcohol consumption in Colombian older adults living in the community. MethodsA Secondary analysis from a nationally representative cross-sectional study of more than 23,000 older adults, with data from 19,004 participants. Drinking frequency, and level (moderate or heavy drinking) were used to assess alcohol use and depressive symptoms explored with the 15 items-GDS., using bivariate and multivariate adjusted regression models. ResultsLower weekly drinking frequency and a higher number of drinks per serving were associated with total GDS score. For individual symptoms, higher drinking frequency was associated with dropping activities and a preference to stay at home. Lower drinking frequency was associated with low mood, unhappiness, feelings of emptiness, worthlessness, hopelessness, and a lack of vigour. Lower number of drinks per serving was associated with withdrawal/apathy related symptoms; these also related to higher frequency of weekly alcohol consumption.Higher number of drinks per serving was associated with feelings of emptiness, worthlessness, boredom, helplessness, worthlessness. not wanting to be alive, thinking that other people are better off in their mood, being afraid that something bad will happen and subjective memory problems. Moderate drinkers had a higher likelihood of reporting lack of vigour. ConclusionThere were diverse patterns of alcohol use according to individual depressive symptoms. This has implications for interventions to reduce alcohol related harm in older people across a range of depressive symptoms with different patterns of alcohol use.

Evaluation of a novel therapeutic education programme for people with alcohol use disorder in France: a mixed-methods intervention study protocol (ETHER)

BackgroundETHER (“Education THEérapeutique pour la Réduction des dommages en alcoologie” or Therapeutic education for alcohol-related harm reduction) is a multicentre community-based mixed-methods study, which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the innovative therapeutic patient education (TPE) programme ‘Choizitaconso’ in a sample of French people with alcohol use disorder (people with AUD). Choizitaconso teaches people with AUD psychosocial skills to help them (re)establish controlled drinking and reduce alcohol-related harms. Recruitment started in October 2019. We present here the protocol of the ETHER study.MethodsETHER’s quantitative component involves a 6-month controlled intervention study which evaluates Choizitaconso’s effectiveness by comparing 30 people with AUD following the programme with a control group of 60 people with AUD not enrolled in it, using a questionnaire co-constructed by the research team and members of the people with AUD community. Thirty-four alcohol-related harms are assessed and summed to provide an individual measure of the ‘harm burden’ from consuming alcohol (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes are anticipated and internalized stigma, alcohol consumption measures, craving for alcohol, coping strategies, health-related quality of life, self-confidence to control or abstain from drinking, treatment self-regulation, anxiety and depressive symptoms, alcohol-related neuropsychological impairments, and capabilities (a measure of wellbeing in adults). Data will be collected in face-to-face and phone-based interviews at enrolment and 6 months later. Linear regression models will be used to assess the impact of the TPE programme on changes in the primary and secondary outcomes, while adjusting for other correlates and confounders. The study’s qualitative component comprises semi-structured interviews with 16 people with AUD who have already completed the TPE programme at least 6 months before the interview. Qualitative interviews will be analysed using thematic analysis.Results and conclusionsETHER is the first evaluation study of an innovative TPE programme specifically designed to reduce alcohol-related harms and reach controlled drinking in France. The involvement of the people with AUD community in selecting which experienced and perceived alcohol-related harms to measure ensures that ETHER will provide healthcare staff and researchers with a relevant set of harm reduction criteria for use in future research. Finally, ETHER will provide scientific justification for implementing novel alcohol-related harm reduction approaches and champion controlled drinking as a therapeutic goal.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03954054. Registered 17 May 2019—Prospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03954054?cond=alcohol&cntry=FR&city=Marseille&draw=1&rank=1.

Harmful alcohol consumption in elite sports players in Ireland.

BackgroundSportspeople are more prone to binge drink than their peers. AimsWe aimed to assess alcohol consumption, harms and behaviours in an elite Irish sporting population (Gaelic footballers and hurlers). MethodsAn anonymous web-based questionnaire (demographics, alcohol consumption, culture and related harms) was administered to all elite players. The AUDIT-C questionnaire (frequency, quantity of alcohol consumption and frequency of binge drinking) was used to assess for adverse alcohol use. Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed for predictors of adverse alcohol use.Results717 players (mean age 24 years) were analysed. The majority of patients were male (75%), unmarried (93%) and had completed university (67%). 96% were current drinkers. Players consumed more alcohol during the off-season (median 20 versus 8 standard drinks in 28 days) compared to the elite season. Amongst current drinkers, 73% exhibit adverse alcohol use, 93% reported binge drinking and 65% an alcohol related harm in the past year. Most players would turn to family (36%) or friends (21%) for help. There were significant associations between monthly bingeing (OR 18.4), smoking (OR 3.3), generally drinking in public (OR 3.2), current gambling (OR 2.3), male gender (OR 2.1), an alcohol harm in the past year (OR 1.9) and adverse alcohol use. In contrast, co-habiting with a partner (OR 0.5) was protective.ConclusionsExcess alcohol consumption, alcohol related harms and binge drinking are prevalent in an elite sporting population, particularly during the off-season. Specific strategies are required to reduce alcohol related harms, particularly amongst high-risk groups during the off-season.

Summarising the impacts of the Queensland Alcohol-related violence and Night-Time Economy (QUANTEM) project.

This closing commentary to the special section presents an overview of the Queensland Alcohol-related violence and Night-Time Economy Monitoring evaluation findings in comparison to those from other jurisdictions where similar interventions have been implemented (such as Sydney and Newcastle), and especially with previous studies that have used similar evaluation methodologies, such as the Dealing with Alcohol and the Night-Time Economy study. Overall, the articles documented promising reductions in alcohol-related harm, building on the existing evidence base for multi-pronged interventions in entertainment districts. Importantly, this is the first comprehensive investigation to also look at impacts on nightlife-related business and findings demonstrated, that there were improvements for many businesses. There are substantial policy implications for Queensland and other jurisdictions (nationally and globally) wanting to reduce late night alcohol-related harm in entertainment districts.

Alcohol’s Harm to Others: Does the Drinking Location Matter?

Background In order to curb alcohol’s harm to others, it is important to identify the contexts where people experience such harm. Objectives: To examine whether frequency of drinking in four different locations was associated with increased likelihood of experiencing harm from others’ drinking. Methods: Data stem from surveys conducted in the five Nordic countries in 2015 (N = 7065, aged 18–64 years) as part of the European Union’s Joint Action on Reducing Alcohol Related Harm (RARHA). Three types of harm from others’ drinking in the past 12 months were measured: verbally abused by, harmed physically by, and experienced a serious argument with someone who had been drinking. Respondents also reported frequency of drinking in their own home, in others’ homes, in a pub/bar/club/restaurant, and outdoors the past 12 months. Results: Country-pooled adjusted analyses showed that higher frequency of drinking in pubs/bars/clubs/restaurants, outdoors and in someone else’s home was associated with increased likelihood of experiencing all three harms. Frequent drinking in one’s own home was weakly associated with experience of harm. Women, young individuals, respondents without tertiary level of education and individuals who reported drinking almost daily were at increased risk of experiencing harm from others’ drinking. Conclusions: Frequent drinking on licensed premises and outdoors was most clearly associated with experiencing harm from others’ drinking, suggesting that these are important arenas for preventive efforts. Women, young individuals, those with low educational level and the most frequent drinkers are important target groups for preventive efforts.