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The impact of relaxed traveller allowances: Fixed-effects analyses of the associations between consumer behaviour and alcohol use

Stafström, Martin LU (2018) In NAD Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 35(4). p.275-287
Abstract
Aim:

To analyse to what extent the gradual relaxation of traveller allowances for alcoholic beverages 2001–2004 changed consumer behaviours and subsequent alcohol consumption patterns within a longitudinal panel data population study in Southern Sweden.
Methods:

General population random sample panel data study with repeated measurements were collected in 1999, in 2005, and in 2010 in the county of Scania. The study analyses answers from 9770 individuals, who in 1999 were 18–80 years old. A fixed-effects modelling was applied to assess the association between consumer behaviour and change in alcohol use across the study period.
Results:

Cross-border shopping for alcoholic beverages was associated, on... (More)
Aim:

To analyse to what extent the gradual relaxation of traveller allowances for alcoholic beverages 2001–2004 changed consumer behaviours and subsequent alcohol consumption patterns within a longitudinal panel data population study in Southern Sweden.
Methods:

General population random sample panel data study with repeated measurements were collected in 1999, in 2005, and in 2010 in the county of Scania. The study analyses answers from 9770 individuals, who in 1999 were 18–80 years old. A fixed-effects modelling was applied to assess the association between consumer behaviour and change in alcohol use across the study period.
Results:

Cross-border shopping for alcoholic beverages was associated, on average, with a 3.1% (p < 0.001) increase in alcohol use. Buying imported alcohol from a private person was associated with a mean increase of 2.6% (p < 0.001), with a total additive effect of 5.7%. Furthermore, when stratified for gender, age, and location, significant fixed effects were found. The magnitude was greater among women, younger and older ages, and in particular in the Northeast and Central regions. Both consumer behaviours – cross-border trading (OR 1.6, CI 95% 1.28–1.92) and buying alcohol from a private person (OR 1.4, CI 95% 1.12–1.73) – were significantly associated with heavy alcohol use.
Conclusion:

The fixed-effects analyses identified significant associations between consumer behaviours and alcohol consumption. The uptake of behaviours that developed because of a relaxation of the Swedish alcohol policy has contributed to an overall long-term increase in alcohol use and higher prevalence of heavy alcohol use within this general population study sample. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alcohol policy, Traveller allowances, Prospective cohort, Fixed effects, Consumer behaviours, Alcohol use
in
NAD Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
volume
35
issue
4
pages
275 - 287
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85053634875
ISSN
1458-6126
DOI
10.1177/1455072518771198
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
78b0b9e9-8ee7-4b34-ac0c-ab89e5fd9c93
date added to LUP
2018-09-28 23:45:42
date last changed
2022-01-31 05:36:56
@article{78b0b9e9-8ee7-4b34-ac0c-ab89e5fd9c93,
  abstract     = {{Aim:<br>
<br>
To analyse to what extent the gradual relaxation of traveller allowances for alcoholic beverages 2001–2004 changed consumer behaviours and subsequent alcohol consumption patterns within a longitudinal panel data population study in Southern Sweden.<br>
Methods:<br>
<br>
General population random sample panel data study with repeated measurements were collected in 1999, in 2005, and in 2010 in the county of Scania. The study analyses answers from 9770 individuals, who in 1999 were 18–80 years old. A fixed-effects modelling was applied to assess the association between consumer behaviour and change in alcohol use across the study period.<br>
Results:<br>
<br>
Cross-border shopping for alcoholic beverages was associated, on average, with a 3.1% (p &lt; 0.001) increase in alcohol use. Buying imported alcohol from a private person was associated with a mean increase of 2.6% (p &lt; 0.001), with a total additive effect of 5.7%. Furthermore, when stratified for gender, age, and location, significant fixed effects were found. The magnitude was greater among women, younger and older ages, and in particular in the Northeast and Central regions. Both consumer behaviours – cross-border trading (OR 1.6, CI 95% 1.28–1.92) and buying alcohol from a private person (OR 1.4, CI 95% 1.12–1.73) – were significantly associated with heavy alcohol use.<br>
Conclusion:<br>
<br>
The fixed-effects analyses identified significant associations between consumer behaviours and alcohol consumption. The uptake of behaviours that developed because of a relaxation of the Swedish alcohol policy has contributed to an overall long-term increase in alcohol use and higher prevalence of heavy alcohol use within this general population study sample.}},
  author       = {{Stafström, Martin}},
  issn         = {{1458-6126}},
  keywords     = {{Alcohol policy; Traveller allowances; Prospective cohort; Fixed effects; Consumer behaviours; Alcohol use}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{275--287}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{NAD Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs}},
  title        = {{The impact of relaxed traveller allowances: Fixed-effects analyses of the associations between consumer behaviour and alcohol use}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/51978501/1455072518771198.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1455072518771198}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}