Effectiveness of public health programs for decreasing alcohol consumption

Abstract

Excessive alcohol consumption and the associated negative consequences are a major public health concern in the United States and throughout the world. Historically, there have been numerous attempts to develop policies and prevention programs aimed at decreasing high-risk alcohol use. Policy initiatives have demonstrated considerable effectiveness and include changes in the minimum legal drinking age, reductions in acceptable legal limits for blood alcohol concentration while operating a motor vehicle, as well as decreasing availability and access to alcohol for underage individuals. Primary prevention programs that have used exclusively educational approaches have received mixed results. Increasing effectiveness has been associated with prevention programs that have utilized a multi-component approach and have included educational initiatives with environmental changes.

Alcohol‐related head and neck cancer: Summary of the literature

“…Some efforts have been devoted to primary prevention of alcohol‐related HNC through preventing the use of alcohol through restrictive policy measures . These efforts include: policies to tax alcohol, limits on alcohol sales, raising the minimum legal drinking age, more prominent warning labels about the harms of alcohol use, and decreasing accessibility and availability to alcohol . Overall, primary prevention policies that incorporate multiple components, such as educational and environmental changes, have demonstrated greater success in reducing alcohol than educational programs alone …”

Self-reported campus alcohol policy and college alcohol consumption: a multilevel analysis of 4592 Korean students from 82 colleges

“…What is clear is that while educational experiences may have no effect among all college students, among students who violate campus alcohol policies and/or engage in high-risk drinking behaviors, alcohol education or counseling is an effective measure in preventing alcohol misuse [30]. Furthermore, as emphasized by Kelly-Weeder and colleagues, integrating educational interventions with environmental approaches can increase program effectiveness [17].…”

“…Banning alcohol advertisements and kegs on campus, and enforcing deterrence policies more strictly have been associated with decreased alcohol consumption [16]. Recent studies have also found that while campaigns to drink responsibly are ineffective for heavy drinkers, strategic campaigns that promote responsible drinking may be effective among mild and moderate drinkers [17]. However, in 2008, Nelson and colleagues found that 23% of colleges in the United States were not employing any recommended strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm, while 45% were only employing a single recommended strategy such as 1) interventions challenging alcohol expectancies, 2) restrictions on alcohol retail outlet density, 3) enforcement of laws to prevent alcohol-impaired driving, and/or 4) responsible beverage service policies in social and commercial settings [18].…”

Effect of a Snack Bar Optimized to Reduce Alcohol Bioavailability: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial in Healthy Individuals

“…15 Due to these negative consequences, governmental agencies around the world have implemented many policies and initiatives to curtail alcohol use, including age restrictions, driving limits, taxation, as well as prevention programs targeted to minors, schools, workplaces, families, and communities; these have all had limited success. 16 An individual's BAC is the result of many factors, including their body composition, physiology, the quantity and timing of the alcohol consumed, and the alcohol concentration in their drink. 17 Furthermore, food consumption before or with an alcoholic drink influences both the speed and amount of alcohol absorption by reducing the rate of gastric emptying and enhancing gastric and hepatic first pass metabolisms.…”