The contribution of education, social class and economic activity to the income–mortality association in alcohol‐related and other mortality in Finland in 1988–2012

Abstract

The income disparity in mortality among working-age Finns originates increasingly from alcohol-related causes of death. Roughly half the excess mortality in the lowest income quintile during 2007-12 is explained by the covariates of household income, education, social class and economic activity.

Adolescent drinking—a touch of social class?

“…To reduce social inequality in health is recognized widely as an important policy issue [1][2][3], and alcohol has been found to contribute significantly to elevated rates of mortality and disability in lower social strata [4][5][6]. There is also evidence that the health consequences of adolescent drinking are considerable [7], and that a substantial proportion-approximately 20%-of all deaths among [15][16][17][18][19] year-olds in Europe is attributable to alcohol use [8].…”

The Effects of the Global Economic Recession and a Reduced Alcohol Tax on Hospitalizations Due to Alcohol-Attributed Diseases in Taiwan

“…Tarkiainen et al considered that the income disparity linked to mortality statistics originated from alcohol-related deaths among the working aged population [52]. A Korean study reported that an increased alcohol-related mortality gap between social groups was attributable to increased alcohol consumption by socially disadvantaged middle-aged men after the economic crisis [53].…”

Commentary on Tarkiainen et al. (2016): Adding another piece to the puzzle of what explains socio‐economic differences in alcohol‐related mortality

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Commentary on Tarkiainen et al (2016): Adding another piece to the puzzle of what explains socio-economic differences in alcohol-related mortality Despite literature on methods for reducing alcohol-related harm by socio-economic groups being scanty, high priority should be given to addressing the triad of low-income, nonemployment and substance abuse and to working towards smaller socio-economic disparities in alcohol-related harm.The importance of reducing the wide and, in many countries, still widening health disparities between socioeconomic groups is recognized widely [1], and in Finland [2] and many other European countries [3] alcohol use has been shown to play an important role in generating these inequalities. More research on the processes and mechanisms of these alcohol-related health disparities and on ways to reduce the differences has long been called for [4].

Tarkiainen et al

[5] add one piece to this puzzle.

…”

“…Commentary on Tarkiainen et al (2016): Adding another piece to the puzzle of what explains socio-economic differences in alcohol-related mortality Despite literature on methods for reducing alcohol-related harm by socio-economic groups being scanty, high priority should be given to addressing the triad of low-income, nonemployment and substance abuse and to working towards smaller socio-economic disparities in alcohol-related harm.…”

“…Tarkiainen et al [5] add one piece to this puzzle. They first confirm the importance and the increasing contribution of alcohol to more general health disparities among men in particular.…”