Recorded presentation

Thomas K. Greenfield, PhD¹, Norman A. Giesbrecht, PhD², and Yu Ye, MS¹. (1) Alcohol Research Group, 2000 Hearst Avenue, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709, 510-642-5208, tgreenfield@arg.org, (2) Social, Prevention & Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada

Key informant research has found public opinion on alcohol policies important to legislators and their staff in considering alcohol control measures such as increasing alcohol taxes, important given today's public health initiatives. It is critical to better inform the public about the evidence base for such needed policy measures. But on whom should campaigns focus? Using the 2000 National Alcohol Survey (n = 7612) with large oversamples of African Americans and Hispanics, we examine support for 11 index alcohol control policies monitored since 1989. Using bivariate and regression analyses, we investigate demographic and personal characteristics associated with higher levels of endorsement of the index policies. Policies include taxation, outlet/service regulations, advertising/sponsorship restrictions, warnings and counter advertising, MDA, and increased prevention/treatment efforts. The median and mean number of policies endorsed is 6 (SD 2.8). Strong statistical differences in support of more stringent alcohol controls were observed by region and state (MS, AR, and WV very high, IA, MN, MT and SD very low support). Women favored more alcohol controls, while African Americans and Hispanics, and those aged 50-59 were markedly more supportive. In regression models, higher drinking volume and binge drinking also predicted much lower endorsement levels as did not being married, having more education and higher income. Results suggest where additional campaigns to increase support for measures may usefully be targeted, and which states may be fertile for legislative actions such as efforts to increase alcohol taxes. Implications for alcohol policy development are discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to

• Know the US levels of public support for 11 alcohol control polices.
• Discuss how public opinion may affect national and state policy initiatives and their legislative outcomes.
• Identify several targets for increased efforts to inform the public of evidence-based alcohol policy initiatives.

Keywords: Legislative, Social Activism

Related Web page: www.arg.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation