Taisia Huckle

Socio-economic status predicts drinking patterns but not alcohol-related consequences independently

AIM To identify independent relationships between socio-economic status and drinking patterns and related consequences and to identify socio-economic groups at risk for heavier consumption. DESIGN AND SETTING Three comparable national telephone surveys were utilized: 1995, 2000 and 2004. The respondents were aged 18-65 years. Contextual information includes that a number of liberalized alcohol policy changes occurred over the time of the surveys. RESULTS Educational qualification, income and occupation were associated independently with alcohol consumption. There were indications that the different dimensions of drinking (quantity and frequency) had different relationships with socio-economic status (SES). For example, lower SES groups drank heavier quantities while higher SES groups drank more frequently. SES, however, did not play a major role predicting drinking consequences once drinking patterns were controlled for, although there were some exceptions. It was the lower-to-average SES groups that were at greater risk for drinking heavier quantities compared to other SES groups in the population (as they had sustained increases in the quantities they consumed over time where other SES groups did not). CONCLUSION Socio-economic status was related independently to drinking patterns and there were indications that SES interacted differently with the different dimensions of drinking (quantity and frequency). For the most part, socio-economic status was not related independently to the experience of alcohol-related consequences once drinking patterns were accounted for. It was the lower-to-average SES groups that were at greater risk for drinking heavier quantities compared to other SES groups in the population.

The International Alcohol Control (IAC) Study—Evaluating the Impact of Alcohol Policies

BACKGROUND This paper describes a new multicountry collaborative project to assess the impact of alcohol control policy. Longitudinal surveys of drinkers in a number of participating countries and analysis of the policy context allow for the assessment of change over time within countries and comparison between countries. The design of the study is modeled on the International Tobacco Control study and aims to assess the impact of alcohol policies in different cultural contexts on policy-related behaviors and alcohol consumption. A survey instrument and protocol for policy analysis have been developed by the initial participating countries: England, Scotland, Thailand, South Korea, and New Zealand. The first round of data collection is scheduled for 2011-2012. MEASUREMENTS The survey instrument (International Alcohol Control [IAC] survey) measures key policy relevant behaviors: place and time of purchase, amounts purchased and price paid; ease of access to alcohol purchase; alcohol marketing measures; social supply; perceptions of alcohol affordability and availability and salience of price; perceptions of enforcement; peoples experiences with specific alcohol restrictions; support for policy and consumption (typical quantity, frequency using beverage and location-specific measures). The Policy Analysis Protocol (PoLAP) assesses relevant aspects of the policy environment including regulation and implementation. RESULTS It has proved feasible to design instruments to collect detailed data on behaviors relevant to alcohol policy change and to assess the policy environment in different cultural settings. CONCLUSIONS In a policy arena in which the interest groups and stakeholders have different perceptions of appropriate policy responses to alcohol-related harm, a robust methodology to assess the impact of policy will contribute to the debate.

Engagement with alcohol marketing and early brand allegiance in relation to early years of drinking

This study aimed to examine the relationship between measures of awareness to marketing and drinking among a sample of young people in New Zealand. The sample consisted of 1302 males and 1236 females predominantly aged between 13 and 14 years and drawn from a number of schools in a metropolitan city. They were surveyed using a computer assisted telephone interview. Regression analyses examined relationships between marketing (awareness of and engagement with a range of alcohol marketing channels) and reports of brand allegiance and drinking status, drinking frequency and quantity and future drinking intentions. The results showed that awareness of each alcohol marketing channel increased the odds of being a drinker by 8%. Engagement with web-based marketing increased the odds of being a drinker by 98% while engagement with traditional marketing increased the odds by 51%. Brand allegiance increased the odds of being a drinker by 356% and increased the likelihood of non-drinkers reporting future drinking intentions (by 73%). Brand allegiance was also associated with more frequent alcohol consumption (1.65 times more drinking occasions per year) and 86% more alcohol consumed on a typical occasion. The results suggest that, while exposure to all forms of marketing are associated with drinking by young people, measures of more active engagement, such as owning merchandise and downloading screensavers are stronger predictors of drinking. Having established a brand allegiance, at this early age, was related to not only drinking and future intentions to drink but also drinking patterns including consuming larger quantities.

Paediatric respite care: a literature review from New Zealand

This paper reviews relevant international and New Zealand literature, policy documents and reports on respite provision for children who are dying and their families. The literature describes why respite care for children is necessary, and evaluates present respite services in accord with recent reports and literature. The service provisions needed for dying children and their families are explored, including suggestions for the improvement of services and future research. The literature reveals that, although respite care for terminally ill children and their families is necessary, service provisions are uncoordinated, not always culturally sensitive and very limited for children and their families. Improvement in paediatric respite services is necessary and research needs to be conducted in this area to facilitate the development of more appropriate respite services for children and their families.

International Alcohol Control Study: pricing data and hours of purchase predict heavier drinking

BACKGROUND This study reports findings from the International Alcohol Control (IAC) study that assesses the impact of alcohol control policy on consumption and policy-related behaviors. Modeled on the International Tobacco Control study that uses longitudinal surveys with comparison between countries, the baseline survey was carried out in New Zealand. This study reports analysis of the purchasing behavior respondents report separately for on- and off-premise outlets, providing validation data for both alcohol consumption and reported prices. METHODS New Zealand is a high-income country with an adult per capita alcohol consumption (as of 2011) of 9.5 l. The survey was carried out among a nationally representative sample of drinkers. Interview data on place and time of purchase, amounts purchased, price paid, and consumption (beverage and location specific) was collected. Relationships between policy relevant variables and consumption were modeled taking into account demographic variables. Validation was provided by government data on alcohol available for consumption, aggregate expenditure and prices from the Consumer Price Index. RESULTS Drinkers paying low prices at on- or off-licensed premises had higher odds of consuming 6+ drinks on a typical occasion, as did drinkers purchasing alcohol at later times. Regarding frequency, drinkers purchasing at later times were more likely to be daily drinkers. Lower price in off licenses but not on licenses predicted daily drinking. The data collected accounted for approximately 96% of alcohol available for consumption and the prices accounted for 98% of aggregate expenditure. CONCLUSIONS Valid survey data were collected to give an accurate picture of alcohol consumption and prices paid by drinkers. Heavy drinkers were more likely to buy cheaper alcohol and purchase at later times; 2 policy issues under discussion in many settings. This analysis suggests the IAC study that has the potential to provide data to contribute to the debate on appropriate policy responses to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Increases in quantities consumed in drinking occasions in New Zealand 1995–2004

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Significant changes have occurred in the alcohol environment in New Zealand recently and there has been debate about how trends in alcohol consumption may currently look. This paper reports trends in drinking over three general population samples in New Zealand. DESIGN AND METHODS Three nationally representative comparable surveys were analysed for trends in: prevalence of drinking, typical occasion quantity, annual frequency and heavier drinking (5+ drinks). Analyses assessed the mean difference of the measures at each year point. Adjustments for multiple comparisons were made. Analysis was undertaken for age and separately for gender. RESULTS Increases in quantities consumed on a typical occasion occurred for the majority of age groups between 1995 and 2000. Women were as likely as men to increase the quantities they consumed. Observing differences between age groups found that young people tended to show the greatest increases in quantity (including heavier drinking) and frequency of consumption between 1995 and 2000. Drinking levels remained relatively stable between 2000 and 2004 with the exception of increases in abstention for some of the younger groups and increases in quantities consumed and heavier drinking among some of the older men. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Increases in quantities consumed per occasion have occurred almost across the board between 1995 and 2000 in New Zealand. Women were as likely as men to increase the quantities they consumed. Young people tended to show the greatest increases in quantity (including heavier drinking) and frequency of consumption between 1995 and 2000. Drinking remained relatively stable between 2000 and 2004.

Ready to drinks are associated with heavier drinking patterns among young females

AIM To report patterns of use of ready to drinks (RTDs) and to assess if RTD consumers have heavier drinking patterns. RTDs were introduced in 1995. METHOD Data from a general population sample of 7201 respondents aged 14-65 years, in New Zealand in 2004, were modelled. RESULTS Nineteen per cent of respondents consumed RTDs. Respondents aged 14-17 and 18-24 years and females were the largest consumers of RTDs. Compared to beer, wine or spirits, being an RTD consumer predicted (1) higher typical occasion quantities for respondents aged 14-17, 18-24 and 25+ years and (2) heavier drinking for those aged 14-17 and 18-24 years. When amounts of beverages consumed were modelled, quantity of RTDs predicted higher typical occasion quantities among females of all ages. Among males beer was more predictive. Similar results were found for the heavier drinking measure. For 14-17-year-old females, RTDs consumption predicted higher annual frequency, but for the other females and males the amount of wine or beer consumed predicted higher frequency. CONCLUSION RTDs were most popular among young people aged 14-17 years, and females. RTDs predicted higher typical occasion alcohol consumption and heavier drinking better than any other beverage for females aged 14-17 years. For the other age and gender groups, other beverages predicted higher quantity and frequency consumption.

Long-Term Impact on Alcohol-Involved Crashes of Lowering the Minimum Purchase Age in New Zealand

OBJECTIVES We assessed the long-term effect of lowering the minimum purchase age for alcohol from age 20 to age 18 years on alcohol-involved crashes in New Zealand. METHODS We modeled ratios of drivers in alcohol-involved crashes to drivers in non-alcohol-involved crashes by age group in 3 time periods using logistic regression, controlling for gender and adjusting for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Before the law change, drivers aged 18 to 19 and 20 to 24 years had similar odds of an alcohol-involved crash (P = .1). Directly following the law change, drivers aged 18 to 19 years had a 15% higher odds of being in an alcohol-involved crash than did drivers aged 20 to 24 years (P = .038). In the long term, drivers aged 18 to 19 years had 21% higher odds of an alcohol-involved crash than did the age control group (P ≤ .001). We found no effects for fatal alcohol-involved crashes alone and no trickle-down effects for the youngest group. CONCLUSIONS Lowering the purchase age for alcohol was associated with a long-term impact on alcohol-involved crashes among drivers aged 18 to 19 years. Raising the minimum purchase age for alcohol would be appropriate.

The Use of an Evidence-Based Community Action Intervention to Improve Age Verification Practices for Alcohol Purchase

Alcohol purchase surveys were undertaken as part of two New Zealand community action projects (one in a large metropolitan area and one in a small town) that aimed at reducing alcohol consumption-related harm for young people. Baseline surveys in both places indicated poor age verification practices. The two follow-up surveys in the metropolitan area showed a decrease in sales made without age identification between 2002 (60%) and 2003 (46%). However, an increase between 2003 (46%) and 2004 (55%) occurred. In the metropolitan area, regulatory staff in three out of seven jurisdictions increased enforcement due to the 2002 survey and follow-up work; this did not happen following the 2003 survey. In the small town, results indicated positive changes in verification practices over time. In addition, licensee meetings, host responsibility training, and a regional project all occurred following the surveys. The surveys have also had important indirect effects. Closer monitoring and enforcement activity due to the surveys has contributed to the amendment of alcohol legislation in New Zealand.

Drinking patterns vary by gender, age and country-level income: Cross-country analysis of the International Alcohol Control Study: Drinking patterns by gender, age and country-level income

Abstract Introduction and Aims Gender and age patterns of drinking are important in guiding country responses to harmful use of alcohol. This study undertook cross‐country analysis of drinking across gender, age groups in some high‐and middle‐income countries. Design and Methods Surveys of drinkers were conducted in Australia, England, Scotland, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis (high‐income), Thailand, South Africa, Mongolia and Vietnam (middle‐income) as part of the International Alcohol Control Study. Drinking pattern measures were high‐frequency, heavier‐typical quantity and higher‐risk drinking. Differences in the drinking patterns across age and gender groups were calculated. Logistic regression models were applied including a measure of country‐level income. Results Percentages of high‐frequency, heavier‐typical quantity and higher‐risk drinking were greater among men than in women in all countries. Older age was associated with drinking more frequently but smaller typical quantities especially in high‐income countries. Middle‐income countries overall showed less frequent but heavier typical quantities; however, the lower frequencies meant the percentages of higher risk drinkers were lower overall compared with high‐income countries (with the exception of South Africa). Discussion and Conclusions High‐frequency drinking was greater in high‐income countries, particularly in older age groups. Middle‐income countries overall showed less frequent drinking but heavier typical quantities. As alcohol use becomes more normalised as a result of the expansion of commercial alcohol it is likely frequency of drinking will increase with a likelihood of greater numbers drinking at higher risk levels.