Does higher alcohol consumption affect attitudes towards alcohol control measures in Estonia?

OBJECTIVES

To analyze whether higher alcohol consumption is associated with negative attitudes towards stricter alcohol control policy measures in Estonia.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative data from 2022 (n = 2059).

METHODS

Attitudes towards seven alcohol control measures and their association with high-risk alcohol consumption (>140 g absolute alcohol for men and >70 g for women per week) were analyzed using used descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression using nationally representative data on Estonian 15-74-year-old population.

RESULTS

In general, high-risk consumption associated with lower acceptance for alcohol control policies. Although men had higher prevalence of opposing alcohol control measure for every item considered, both men and women with high-risk alcohol consumption were significantly more likely to be against alcohol control measures in general even after accounting for the variation by demographic characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

As public opinion is detrimental to the successful implementation of alcohol policies, these findings emphasize the need to communicate alcohol-related harms to the public in order to increase awareness and support for alcohol control policies.