title: Using multi-level data to estimate the effect of an 'alcogenic' environment on hazardous alcohol consumption in the former Soviet Union.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess whether alcohol-related community characteristics act collectively to influence individual-level alcohol consumption in the former Soviet Union (fSU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using multi-level data from nine countries in the fSU we conducted a factor analysis of seven alcohol-related community characteristics. The association between any latent factors underlying these characteristics and two measures of hazardous alcohol consumption was then analysed using a population average regression modelling approach. Our factor analysis produced one factor with an eigenvalue >1 (EV=1.28), which explained 94% of the variance. This factor was statistically significantly associated with increased odds of CAGE problem drinking (OR=1.40 (1.08-1.82)). The estimated association with EHD was not statistically significant (OR=1.10 (0.85-1.44)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that a high number of beer, wine and spirit advertisements and high alcohol outlet density may work together to create an 'alcogenic' environment that encourages hazardous alcohol consumption in the fSU.
authors.affiliation: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition (ECOHOST), Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Adrianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition (ECOHOST), Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Bayard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Ploubidis
authors.affiliation: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition (ECOHOST), Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Stockholm Centre on Health of Societies in Transition (SCOHOST), Södertörn University, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stickley
authors.affiliation: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition (ECOHOST), Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001515:Beer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014586:USSR / Q000453:epidemiology; D014920:Wine; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol consumption; Environmental factors; Epidemiologic factors; USSR