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Monday, December 8, 2008

Opinions on the impact of alcohol on individuals and communities: early summary findings from the NorthWest Big Drink Debate


• In line with international evidence, respondents recognised that a number of external factors increase the quantity of alcohol consumed: low prices and discounts (80% thought this increases consumption); large measures (75%); allowing street drinking (68%); advertising (56%) and extended drinking hours (54%).

• Nearly half of participants avoided the town centre at night because of the drunken behaviour of others, and half felt that action was needed to tackle alcohol issues in their area.

• Fewer than half of respondents felt that information on alcohol-related harm (36%) or advice from a GP (48%) would decrease alcohol consumption.

• Nearly three in ten of the respondents drank at hazardous or harmful levels1, which when extrapolated to the whole population, suggests an estimated 1.33 million adults in the North West drink at such levels. Alcohol intake was high across all population segments, although the type of alcohol consumed showed strong socioeconomic gradients, with wine drinking associated with less deprived communities and beer or cider intake higher in more deprived locations.

• Very few people felt that the health risks of alcohol were exaggerated. Although only 7% felt that they did not know enough about the health risks, this was higher among harmful drinkers (11%). More than two in five drinkers were concerned about the impact of their drinking on their weight. In particular, those drinking hazardously (58%) and harmfully (60%) were most likely to feel this way. Such health concerns should be used to tailor brief interventions, health messages and campaigns.

• People who drink harmfully were six times more likely to say that alcohol relieves boredom or that it helps them to forget their problems compared with sensible drinkers.Such motivations should be considered when seeking to address alcohol misuse.

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