Sérgio Duailibi

The Effect of Restricting Opening Hours on Alcohol-Related Violence

OBJECTIVE We investigated whether limiting the hours of alcoholic beverage sales in bars had an effect on homicides and violence against women in the Brazilian city of Diadema. The policy to restrict alcohol sales was introduced in July 2002 and prohibited on-premises alcohol sales after 11 pm. METHODS We analyzed data on homicides (1995 to 2005) and violence against women (2000 to 2005) from the Diadema (population 360,000) police archives using log-linear regression analyses. RESULTS The new restriction on drinking hours led to a decrease of almost 9 murders a month. Assaults against women also decreased, but this effect was not significant in models in which we controlled for underlying trends. CONCLUSIONS Introducing restrictions on opening hours resulted in a significant decrease in murders, which confirmed what we know from the literature: restricting access to alcohol can reduce alcohol-related problems. Our results give no support to the converse view, that increasing availability will somehow reduce problems.

Pesquisa de compra de bebidas alcoólicas por adolescentes em duas cidades do Estado de São Paulo

OBJECTIVE Alcohol use is a public health problem. Commercial availability is an important factor that encourages the use of alcohol by young people. The aim of the study was to assess how often young people under 18 could buy alcohol in shops METHODS Adolescents from 13 to 17 attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages at a random sample of shops in the cities of Paulinia (n=108) and Diadema (n=426), Southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted from November to December 2003 in Paulínia, and July 2004 to August 2005 in Diadema. They were told not to lie about their ages when asked and to say that the beverage was for themselves. Statistical tests performed were two-tailed and the significance level considered was p<0.05. RESULTS Adolescents, under the minimum legal age, were successful in purchasing alcoholic beverages in the first attempt in 85.2% of the surveyed outlets in Paulinia, and 82.4% in Diadema. The adolescents bought alcoholic beverages just as easy in all shops researched. CONCLUSIONS The data showed almost unanimous easiness of teenagers to obtain alcoholic beverages, suggesting the relevance of this problem in these cities (and probably in Brazil). The urge to adopt specific alcohol policies to this age group is highlighted, in order to reduce alcohol consumption.OBJETIVO: O consumo de alcool e um problema de saude publica. A disponibilidade comercial e um importante fator no estimulo ao consumo de alcool por adolescentes. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar com que frequencia menores de 18 anos conseguem comprar bebidas alcoolicas em estabelecimentos comerciais. METODOS: Adolescentes com idades entre 13 e 17 anos tentaram comprar bebidas alcoolicas em uma amostra aleatoria de estabelecimentos comerciais em Paulinia (N=108) e Diadema (N=426), no Estado de Sao Paulo. O estudo foi realizado em novembro e dezembro de 2003 em Paulinia e de julho de 2004 a agosto de 2005 em Diadema. Eles foram orientados a nao mentir sobre sua idade quando questionados e a dizer que a bebida era para consumo proprio. Os testes estatisticos realizados foram bi-caudais e o nivel de significância considerado foi de p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Adolescentes abaixo da idade minima legal conseguiram comprar bebidas alcoolicas em uma primeira tentativa em 85,2% dos locais testados em Paulinia e em 82,4% em Diadema. Os adolescentes compraram bebidas alcoolicas com a mesma facilidade em todos os estabelecimentos pesquisados. CONCLUSOES: Os dados mostraram uma quase unânime facilidade de obtencao de bebidas alcoolicas, sugerindo a relevância do problema nestas cidades (e provavelmente no Brasil). Ressalta-se a importância da adocao de politicas especificas para esta faixa etaria, no sentido de reduzir o consumo de alcool.

Prevalência do beber e dirigir em Diadema, estado de São Paulo

Problems due to alcohol use among drivers have been assessed worldwide and studies indicate high morbidity and mortality rates related to drinking and driving. There are few national studies about this subject. Thus, this study was conducted aiming at estimating the prevalence of drinking and driving and testing the acceptability of passive and active breathalyzers. A total of 908 drivers were tested in the main streets of a city in the state of Sao Paulo, from February 2005 to March 2006. The methodology adopted was sobriety checkpoints. In 23.7% of the drivers some level of alcohol was found in the exhaled air; in 19.4% alcohol level was equal to or higher than the legal limit. The passive breathalyzer was reliable and presented results comparable to the active one. These findings were six times higher than those found in similar surveys carried out in other countries, indicating the relevance of this problem. Specific public policies to fight the problem and more national studies are needed.

Políticas públicas relacionadas às bebidas alcoólicas

The article is a review of studies on alcohol-related problems and public policies for consumption reduction addressing recent national and international scientific evidences. In this way, literature review was carried out on alcohol-related public policies through searches in MEDLINE, SCiELO and LILACS databases. Policies for alcohol consumption reduction have been implemented in different countries to minimize its effects on peoples health and safety but only recently such strategies and interventions have been scientifically evaluated. It is discussed better cost-effectiveness policies for reducing harmful effects and socioeconomic costs associated with alcohol use through the development of strategies favoring changes in behavior and harmful consumption contexts that can be applicable to different communities.

Drinking-and-driving prevalence in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Problems resulting from alcohol consumption by drivers have been studied worldwide, and epidemiological research points to high injury and death rates related to drinking-and-driving. However, equivalent data are limited in Brazil. In this study, 913 drivers were stopped on public roads with heavy traffic and high concentrations of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, and asked to answer a questionnaire and submit to an active breathalyzer test. The study was done in December 2005 and December 2006. The study adopted the internationally accepted sobriety checkpoint method. In the sample, 38.0% of drivers showed some trace of alcohol in their exhaled air, and 19.6% were at or above the legal limit (0.6 g/l). These figures were five times those found in similar surveys in other countries. The findings suggest a critical drinking-and-driving problem in Belo Horizonte (and probably elsewhere in Brazil) and the need for on-going research, the development of specific public policies to deal with the problem, and effective enforcement of the existing law.

The effect of the new traffic law on drinking and driving in São Paulo, Brazil☆

OBJECTIVE To present data on drinking and driving in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and the effects of the new traffic law (Law 11,705) introduced in 2008. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed using a questionnaire and passive breath test data to study the prevalence of drinking and driving and the association of drinking and driving with background characteristics and drinking patterns on two separate occasions. The data were gathered from 2007 to 2009 through roadside surveys conducted on busy public roads. Four thousand two-hundred thirty-four (4234) drivers were approached, before and after prohibition, from the south, north, east, and west regions of the city of São Paulo, located in southeastern Brazil, including cars, motorcycles, and utility vehicles. A total of 3854 (91%) consented to participate in the survey and answered the questionnaire. Out of this group, 3229 (84%) agreed to take the passive breathalyzer test. RESULTS Logistic regression analyses controlling for gender and age was used to predict a positive breath test (above 0.2g/l) and the impact of the new law. These analyses indicated that, after the passage of the new traffic law, there was a 45% decrease in driver behavior with positive breathalyzer results. Having a pattern of alcohol consumption of at least once a week and the habit of drinking and driving are risks for a positive breathalyzer. CONCLUSIONS Despite the decline in the frequency of motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, traffic-related injuries and deaths, after the new law, other measures for a public policy related to alcohol should be considered based on scientific evidence, consistency of action, clear goals, community support, and greater reliability in the laws.

O impacto da "Lei Seca" sobre o beber e dirigir em Belo Horizonte/MG

The scope of this paper is to present comparative data on drinking and driving behavior among drivers in Belo Horizonte in the State of Minas Gerais, in the period from 2005 to 2009, evaluating the impact of Law No. 11.705 (Prohibition), dated June 6, 2008. Data regarding prevalence of this behavior, collected at Sobriety Checkpoints (internationally used methodology) were analyzed using representative samples obtained from drivers on different public roads with intensive traffic in Belo Horizonte (2005-2009), thus permitting analysis of the impact of the new law. In 2008, the data showed a reduction of approximately 50% in the prevalence of individuals driving with any level of alcohol in the blood, when compared to 2007, after the change in legislation. This study showed that the impact caused by Law No.11.705 was marked in the sense of modifying the behavior under scrutiny. However, other control measures need to be added to the current legislation, in order to obtain a continuous reduction of drinking and driving behavior, thereby fostering a culture of sobriety on the road.