title: A rapid evidence review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alcohol control policies: an English perspective.
abstract: This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of policies to reduce alcohol-related harm. Policies focus on price, marketing, availability, information and education, the drinking environment, drink-driving, and brief interventions and treatment. Although there is variability in research design and measured outcomes, evidence supports the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of policies that address affordability and marketing. An adequate reduction in temporal availability, particularly late night on-sale availability, is effective and cost-effective. Individually-directed interventions delivered to at-risk drinkers and enforced legislative measures are also effective. Providing information and education increases awareness, but is not sufficient to produce long-lasting changes in behaviour. At best, interventions enacted in and around the drinking environment lead to small reductions in acute alcohol-related harm. Overall, there is a rich evidence base to support the decisions of policy makers in implementing the most effective and cost-effective policies to reduce alcohol-related harm.
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK; Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK. Electronic address: clive.henn@phe.gov.uk.
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henn
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK; Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Greaves
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK; Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Caryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beynon
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK; Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marsden
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sheron
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome