Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden

Aim To examine the potential effects of replacing the Swedish alcohol retail system with a private licensing system on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.Design Two possible scenarios were analysed: (1) replacing the current alcohol retail monopoly with private licensed stores that special...

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Main Authors: Norström, T., Miller, T., Holder, H., Österberg, E., Ramstedt, M., Rossow, I., Stockwell, Tim
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2010
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17280
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author Norström, T.
Miller, T.
Holder, H.
Österberg, E.
Ramstedt, M.
Rossow, I.
Stockwell, Tim
author_facet Norström, T.
Miller, T.
Holder, H.
Österberg, E.
Ramstedt, M.
Rossow, I.
Stockwell, Tim
author_sort Norström, T.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Aim To examine the potential effects of replacing the Swedish alcohol retail system with a private licensing system on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.Design Two possible scenarios were analysed: (1) replacing the current alcohol retail monopoly with private licensed stores that specialize in alcohol sales or (2) making all alcohol available in grocery stores. We utilized a multiplicative model that projected effects of changes in a set of key factors including hours of sale, retail prices, promotion and advertising and outlet density. Next, we estimated the effect of the projected consumption increase on a set of harm indicators. Values for the model parameters were obtained from the research literature.Measurements Measures of alcohol-related harm included explicitly alcohol-related mortality, accident mortality, suicide, homicide, assaults, drinking driving and sickness absence.Findings According to the projections, scenario 1 yields a consumption increase of 17% (1.4 litres/capita), which in turn would cause an additional 770 deaths, 8500 assaults, 2700 drinking driving offences and 4.5 million sick days per year. The corresponding figures for scenario 2 are a consumption increase of 37.4% (3.1 litres/capita) leading to an additional annual toll of 2000 deaths, 20 000 assaults, 6600 drinking driving offences and 11.1 million days of sick leave.Conclusions Projections based on the research literature suggest that privatization of the Swedish alcohol retail market would significantly increase alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm. © 2010 The Authors, Addiction © 2010 Society for the Study of Addiction.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-172802017-09-13T15:44:34Z Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden Norström, T. Miller, T. Holder, H. Österberg, E. Ramstedt, M. Rossow, I. Stockwell, Tim Aim To examine the potential effects of replacing the Swedish alcohol retail system with a private licensing system on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.Design Two possible scenarios were analysed: (1) replacing the current alcohol retail monopoly with private licensed stores that specialize in alcohol sales or (2) making all alcohol available in grocery stores. We utilized a multiplicative model that projected effects of changes in a set of key factors including hours of sale, retail prices, promotion and advertising and outlet density. Next, we estimated the effect of the projected consumption increase on a set of harm indicators. Values for the model parameters were obtained from the research literature.Measurements Measures of alcohol-related harm included explicitly alcohol-related mortality, accident mortality, suicide, homicide, assaults, drinking driving and sickness absence.Findings According to the projections, scenario 1 yields a consumption increase of 17% (1.4 litres/capita), which in turn would cause an additional 770 deaths, 8500 assaults, 2700 drinking driving offences and 4.5 million sick days per year. The corresponding figures for scenario 2 are a consumption increase of 37.4% (3.1 litres/capita) leading to an additional annual toll of 2000 deaths, 20 000 assaults, 6600 drinking driving offences and 11.1 million days of sick leave.Conclusions Projections based on the research literature suggest that privatization of the Swedish alcohol retail market would significantly increase alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm. © 2010 The Authors, Addiction © 2010 Society for the Study of Addiction. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17280 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03091.x Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted
spellingShingle Norström, T.
Miller, T.
Holder, H.
Österberg, E.
Ramstedt, M.
Rossow, I.
Stockwell, Tim
Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden
title Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden
title_full Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden
title_fullStr Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden
title_full_unstemmed Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden
title_short Potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: Results from Sweden
title_sort potential consequences of replacing a retail alcohol monopoly with a private licence system: results from sweden
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17280