Contextual Determinants and Alcohol Control Policies in the United Kingdom

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, between 1960 and the 2000s, there were many sociodemographic and economic factors that played a part in the changing picture of alcohol consumption and its related harm. This paper describes some of these variables along with the political measures that were identified as correlated with changes in consumption and harm. The resulting picture is unclear. No consistent pattern was identified among the variables analyzed. Beverage choice changed over time with a reduction in beer consumption and an increase in wines and spirits. Nevertheless, the overall picture showed an increase in total alcohol consumption and resulting harm.

Keywords :

• alcohol
• AMPHORA UK
• public health
• economic
• sociodemographic
• political

Notes

2 Garage Forecourts are the convenience stores attached to petrol stations where fuel is purchased.

3 The interested reader is referred to: Tilly, C. (2006). Why. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, for a stimulating analysis about generic “causative” reasons given in the West; Tilly, C. (2008). Credit and blame. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, for an important analysis about “credit” and “blame” when things fail or succeed; Ormerod, P. (2005). Why most things fail: Evolution, extinction and economics. UK: Faber & Faber; and Miller, M. (2010). The tyranny of dead ideas. New York: Henry Holt & Co. Editor's note.