The impact of lower strength alcohol products on alcohol purchases: ARIMA analyses based on 4 million purchases by 69 803 households, 2015-2019

P. Anderson*, A. O'Donnell, E.J. Llopis, E. Kaner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background Lowering the strength of alcohol products could lead to less alcohol being bought and drunk. In its prevention White Paper, the UK Government aims to promote a significant increase in the availability of alcohol-free and low-alcohol products by 2025. Methods Through descriptive analysis and ARIMA modelling of >4 million alcohol purchases from 69 803 British households, we study the potential impact of lower strength alcohol products in reducing household purchases of grams of alcohol over 2015-2019. Households are divided into predominantly beer, wine or spirits purchasers. Results Over 5 years, there were decreases in purchases of grams of alcohol within beer amongst beer-purchasing households and increases in purchases of grams of alcohol within wine and spirits amongst, respectively, wine- and spirits-purchasing households. Almost all the changes were due to beer-purchasing households buying less regular strength beer, and wine and spirits-purchasing households buying, respectively, more regular strength wine and spirits, rather than increases in purchases of no- and low-alcohol products. Conclusions In general, lower strength alcohol products have not contributed to British households buying fewer grams of alcohol over the 5-year follow-up period during 2015-2019.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e567–e577
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Public Health
Volume44
Issue number4
Early online date26 Apr 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2022

Keywords

  • public health
  • alcohol consumption
  • behaviour
  • BEVERAGES
  • HEALTHY
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Behaviour
  • Public health

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