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

ABSTRACT

Background: 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.

Objective: This study aims to explore whether support for key alcohol control policy measures in Lithuania declined following implementation of alcohol control measures.

Methods: Data came from the Standard European Alcohol Survey. Two representative surveys with the same questionnaire, were conducted in Lithuania in 2015 (N = 1513, 51.7% female, response rate was 38.9%) and 2020 (N = 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 Pearson chi-square test.

Results: 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, p = .032), alcohol prices should be kept high (OR: 0.83, p = .027), and the police should be allowed to randomly check whether the driver is sober (OR: 0.65, p < .001). The proportion of respondents who agree that individuals are responsible enough with their drinking significantly declined (OR: 0.76, p = .003).

Conclusion: 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.

KEYWORDS:

• Attitudes toward alcohol policies
• Standard European Alcohol Survey
• Lithuania
• risky drinking

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The first survey (RAHRA SEAS-1) received funding from the European Union, in the framework of the Health Program (2008–2013). The second survey was funded by a grant (No. S-MIP20-2) from the Research Council of Lithuania (2020-2022).