Effects of alcoholic beverage control policies and contextual factors on alcohol consumption and its related harms in France from 1960 to 2000.

Important social changes such as urbanization, increases in female education and employment, and increased incomes have occurred in France from 1960 to 2000 along with a major decrease in alcoholic beverage consumption (from 25 L pure alcohol per inhabitant 15 years and old to 13 L); especially due to wine consumption decrease. These changes in drinking patterns are associated with significant decreases in alcohol consumption-related harms (liver disease mortality and transport accident mortality). Several alcoholic beverage consumption control policy measures were also created during this period. This study explores the impact of these policies measure on alcohol consumption and alcohol consumption-related harms, adjusted with selected social changes. France's control policy has been associated, partially, with regressive effects on alcohol consumption but not on alcohol consumption-related harms. Study limitations are noted.