title: Changes in alcohol policies and public opinions in Finland 2003-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a constant and ongoing interplay between public opinions and public policies, alcohol policies being no exception. This article describes the development of public opinions regarding alcohol policy in Finland during a 10-year period between 2003 and 2013. Fluctuations in the alcohol policy opinion climate are put in context by looking at concurrent changes in alcohol policies and in total alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is based on data from opinion surveys on alcohol policies commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Welfare and the Finnish Social and Health Association. The opinion polls include questions about the general acceptance of prevailing alcohol policies, appropriate sales channels of different alcoholic beverage categories and opinions about the legal age limits and prices of alcoholic beverages. In the study, changes in alcohol policy during 2003-2013 are surveyed, and their relationship with changes in alcohol policy opinion is examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There seem to be a strong positive correlation during the study period between the level of alcohol consumption and the share of those wanting a more restrictive alcohol policy in Finland.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that an increased level of awareness of alcohol-related issues among the general public created a more restrictive opinion climate on alcohol policy issues after the big alcohol excise duty decrease in 2004. The reverse seems to happen but in a lesser degree when alcohol excise duties has been increased after the year 2007.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Drugs Unit, Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Österberg
authors.forename: Mikaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindeman
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlsson
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000191:economics; D003132:Commerce; D005387:Finland; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D011639:Public Opinion
keywords: Finland; Gallup poll; alcohol consumption; alcohol policy; public opinion