Can alcohol make you happy? A subjective wellbeing approach

Abstract

There are surprisingly few discussions of the link between wellbeing and alcohol, and few empirical studies to underpin them. Policymakers have therefore typically considered negative wellbeing impacts while ignoring positive ones, used gross overestimates of positive impacts via a naïve 'consumer surplus' approach, or ignored wellbeing completely. We examine an alternative subjective wellbeing method for investigating alcohol and wellbeing, using fixed effects analyses of the associations between drinking and wellbeing within two different types of data.

Killing two birds with one stone? Association between tobacco and alcohol consumption

“…In sum, this work enabled to analyse alcohol and tobacco consumption together, identifying correlations between behaviours, and pointing out variables that could be used as policy instruments to develop concerted policies. This topic deserves further attention and investigation, namely from a policy perspective, given that prevention policies should take into account the links between behaviours 67 , and eventually disparities among different types of drinkers 68 . It could be useful to consider distinct measures of alcohol addiction, given that the limited available evidence suggests that the prevalence of tobacco use varies among levels of alcohol consumption 69 .…”

Feeling low, thinking slow? Associations between situational cues, mood and cognitive function

“…We also extended previous work in this area by adding to the list of assessed situational cues to include self-reported physiological states that inform well-being (e.g. Jackowska, Ronadlson, Brown, & Steptoe, 2016;Geiger & MacKerron, 2016). We predicted that sleeping and eating enough benefitted mood and also, that having experienced intoxication through alcohol or other substances enhanced mood (Geiger & MacKerron, 2016).…”

“…Jackowska, Ronadlson, Brown, & Steptoe, 2016;Geiger & MacKerron, 2016). We predicted that sleeping and eating enough benefitted mood and also, that having experienced intoxication through alcohol or other substances enhanced mood (Geiger & MacKerron, 2016). With regard to (c), we predicted that being at home or work was unrelated cognitive function, because both places were assumed to offer similar degrees of distraction.…”

All drinking is not equal: how a social practice theory lens could enhance public health research on alcohol and other health behaviours

“…Thirdly, we can also see applications for practice theory in considering the consumption to harm relationship in ways that take us beyond risk functions where incremental differences in risk are calculated on the basis of grams ethanol consumed and, occasionally, frequencies of heavy drinking. Research is starting to point to the context‐specificity of drinking outcomes , highlighting that elements of drinking practices other than consumption volume (e.g. drinking location and venue, occasion type, companions, glassware, transportation and shared understandings of the appropriate drinking levels for different occasions) are likely to explain variations in both levels and types of harms (and benefits) experienced.…”