title: Policy-Relevant Behaviors Predict Heavier Drinking in Both On and Off Premises and Mediate the Relationship Between Heavier Alcohol Consumption and Age, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status-Analysis from the International Alcohol Control Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our goal was to investigate the role of behaviors amenable to policy change in mediating the relationship between alcohol consumption in off and on premises, age, and 2 measures of socioeconomic status (education and income).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional general population survey was analyzed by using Bayesian path analysis to understand direct and mediating pathways. A total of 1,900 drinkers (past 6 months), aged 18 to 65 years, living in households with landline phones participated in the study. Measures were as follows: typical quantities of alcohol consumed per occasion, frequency of drinking, both off and on premise; gender, age groups; and years of education, personal income, prices paid, time of purchase, and liking for alcohol advertisements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Later times of purchase predicted larger quantities consumed (on and off premise) and more frequent drinking (on premise only). Younger people and males purchased later, and this mediated their heavier consumption. Lower prices paid predicted larger quantities consumed (on premise) and higher frequency of drinking (off premise). Younger and male respondents paid lower prices, and this mediated larger quantities consumed on premise and more frequent drinking off premise. Less well educated paid lower prices, and this mediated drinking more frequently off premise among this group. Liking for alcohol ads predicted drinking larger quantities and higher frequency both off and on premise. Younger and male respondents reported greater liking for ads, and this mediated their consumption of larger quantities and more frequent drinking both on and off premise. Those with higher income drank larger amounts on premise and more frequently on and off, but there were no mediating effects from the policy-relevant variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heavier drinking patterns by young people and those less well educated could be ameliorated by attention to alcohol policy.
authors: SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Casswell
authors: SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Taisia
authors: T
authors: Huckle
authors: SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Wall
authors: SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Parker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011640:Public Policy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; Alcohol Consumption; Alcohol Policy; Socioeconomic Status