title: The impact of policy changes on consumer behaviour and alcohol consumption in Scania, Sweden 1999-2005.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the hypothesis that a gradual deregulation of traveller allowances, starting in 2001 and ending in 2004, on alcoholic beverages changed consumer behaviours that ultimately led to an increase in alcohol consumption in southern Sweden between in 2005 compared with 1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data for this general population random sample prospective cohort study with repeated measurements were collected in 1999 (T1) and in 2005 (T2) in the county of Scania, analysing the answers from 8612 individuals, who at T1 were alcohol consumers and 18-80 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aggregate age-adjusted general mean alcohol consumption did not change significantly between T1 and T2. Significant downward changes were found in a number of demographical and socioeconomic sub-groups. Generalized linear model analyses indicated that the uptake of buying alcohol from a private person was associated with significantly higher consumption (P < 0.001). No longer buying alcohol from a private person, consuming illicitly distilled spirits or buying alcohol abroad were significantly associated with lower consumption at follow-up. Interaction effects between changing consumer behaviours were also identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The deregulation of the cross-border trade of alcohol into Sweden did not, within our sample, lead to an increase in consumption. There were, however, significant decreases in consumption levels within different socio-demographic sub-groups. In relation to changing consumer behaviours both upward and downward shifts in drinking trends were observed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmo, Sweden martin.stafstrom@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stafström
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmo, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per-Ölof
authors.initials: PÖ
authors.lastname: Ostergren
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000191:economics*; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011640:Public Policy / Q000191:economics*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden