RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Trends in European liver death rates: implications for alcohol policy
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 259
OP 263
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.10-3-259
VO 10
IS 3
A1 Jo Jewell
A1 Nick Sheron
YR 2010
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/10/3/259.abstract
AB Changing alcohol consumption has led to a three- to fivefold increase in liver deaths in the UK and Finland, and a three- to fivefold decrease in France and Italy. Increasing consumption from a low baseline has been driven by fiscal, marketing and commercial factors – some of which have occurred as a result of countries joining the EU. In contrast consumption has fallen from previously very high levels as a result of shifting social and cultural factors; a move from rural to urban lifestyles and increased health consciousness. The marketing drive in these countries has had to shift from a model based on quantity to one based on quality, which means that health gains have occurred alongside a steady improvement in the overall value of the wine industry. Fiscal incentives – minimum pricing, restricting cross border trade and more volumetric taxation could aid this shift. A healthier population and a healthy drinks industry are not incompatible.