Changes in attitudes toward alcohol control policies in Lithuania: findings from two representative surveys in 2015 and 2020.

A set of evidence-based alcohol control policy measures was adopted in the period 2016-2020 in Lithuania. The present study fills a knowledge gap on how changes in alcohol control policy are associated with attitudes toward different alcohol policy measures. This study aims to explore whether support for key alcohol control policy measures in Lithuania declined following implementation of alcohol control measures. Data came from the Standard European Alcohol Survey. Two representative surveys with the same questionnaire, were conducted in Lithuania in 2015 ( = 1513, 51.7% female, response rate was 38.9%) and 2020 ( = 1015, 50.6% female, response rate was 38.0%). Multi-stage stratified probability sampling was applied. Surveys were carried out using computer-assisted face-to-face interviews, descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses was applied. We used a binomial logistic regression analysis and the test. There was a significant decline in a proportion of respondents who agreed that the number of alcohol selling places should be kept low (OR: 0.84,  = .032), alcohol prices should be kept high (OR: 0.83,  = .027), and the police should be allowed to randomly check whether the driver is sober (OR: 0.65,  < .001). The proportion of respondents who agree that individuals are responsible enough with their drinking significantly declined (OR: 0.76,  = .003). Support for restrictions on alcohol-selling points, increase in alcohol price, and random alcohol testing of drivers declined following the adoption of new alcohol control policy measures. Our findings might be beneficial for policy-makers planning alcohol control policies and information campaigns.