Italy Between Drinking Culture and Control Policies for Alcoholic Beverages. (15th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allamani, Allaman; Voller, Fabio; Pepe, Pasquale; Baccini, Michela; Massini, Giulia; Cipriani, Francesco
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 49:Number 12(2014)
• Page Start: 1646
• Page End: 1664
• Publication Date: 2014-10-15
• Subjects: sociodemographic and economic factor -- alcohol control policies -- time series analysis -- artificial neural network analysis -- alcoholic beverage as symbol; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2014.913386
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

Abstract : This paper focuses on whether the on-going dramatic decrease in alcohol consumption in Italy, especially of wine, during 1961–2008, was associated with which parallel sociodemographic and economic changes and with alcohol control policies. The study, using both time series (TS) and artificial neural network (ANN)-based analyses documents that its selected sociodemographic and economic factors, and particularly urbanization, had a definite connection with wine consumption decrease, spirits decrease, and the increase in beer consumption over time. On the other hand, control policies showed no effect on the decline in alcohol consumption, since no alcohol control policy existed in Italy between 1960 and 1987. A few policies introduced since 1988 (BAC and sale restrictions during mass events) may have contributed to reducing or to maintaining the on-going reduction. Study limitations are noted and future needed research is suggested.