An exploration of the lived experiences of people with alcohol-related harm in Scotland

ABSTRACT

Background: Alcohol consumption has posed well-documented problems for Scottish society in terms of morbidity, mortality, and wider societal costs. Objectives: To investigate the lived experiences and drinking behaviors of people with alcohol-related harm in Scotland against a backdrop of recent economic downturn, falling incomes, welfare reform, and changes to state benefits. Methods: As part of a larger Scottish study (2012–2014) of 639 individuals attending hospital or admitted, relating to an alcohol problem, 20 participants completed semistructured interviews about their drinking and purchasing habits that were subjected to thematic analysis. Conclusions: Key themes elucidated participants’ everyday drink-related behaviors within their local environment including drinking triggers, sourcing alcohol, resourcing alcohol purchase, and views relating to substitution. The majority of participants had experienced reduced income and adapted their alcohol-purchasing behaviors accordingly, including “trading down” to cheaper alcohol. A reduction in food purchasing and heating was a common outcome, as was falling into, or increasing current, debt. More attention should be paid to the prevalence and accessibility of alcohol within local communities. Ultimately, as long as there is highly visible and easily accessible cheap alcohol, heavy drinkers may struggle to undertake positive steps to reduce their damaging consumption levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol consumption
• heavy drinkers
• public health

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the interviewees for participating in this research, and the clinicians who facilitated the study. They would also like to thank Lucie Michalova, Robert Rush, and Barbara McPake for their assistance and support, and the study steering group.

Declaration of interest

JC reports personal fees from H Lundbeck A/S and is Medical Director at Castle Craig Hospital, West Linton, Scottish Borders. No other author reports competing interests.

Funding

This study was supported financially by the Chief Scientist Office, Scotland; Alcohol Research UK; NHS Health Scotland; NHS Lothian Foundation Trust and in kind by the Scottish Mental Health Research Network.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported financially by the Chief Scientist Office, Scotland; Alcohol Research UK; NHS Health Scotland; NHS Lothian Foundation Trust and in kind by the Scottish Mental Health Research Network.