title: Decline in alcohol consumption in Estonia: combined effects of strengthened alcohol policy and economic downturn.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe alcohol policy changes in parallel to consumption changes in 2005-2010 in Estonia, where alcohol consumption is among the highest in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of pertinent legislation and literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol consumption decreased since 2008, while alcohol excise tax, sales time restrictions and ad bans have increased since 2005. An economic downturn started in 2008.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The precise roles of policy changes and the economic downturn in the decline of alcohol consumption, and whether the decrease will be sustained, are still unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu 50411, Estonia. taavi.lai@ut.ee
authors.forename: Taavi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jarno
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Habicht
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004957:Estonia; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy