TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - The link between per capita alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in Sweden, 1987-2015
JO  - Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
A1  - Norström, Thor
A1  - Ramstedt, Mats
SP  - 578
EP  - 584
VL  - 79
IS  - 4
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested a weakening of the relationship between population drinking and harm in Sweden. The aim of the present article was to estimate this association on the basis of more recent Swedish time-series data. <br><br>METHOD: The Swedish state monopoly's (Systembolaget) alcohol sales were used as a proxy for population drinking, expressed in liters 100% alcohol per capita ages 15 and older. As indicators of harm we used mortality (cirrhosis mortality, accidents, and suicide), police-reported assaults, and drink driving. Quarterly data on mortality and alcohol consumption spanned the period 1987Q1-2015Q1, and the data on police-reported offenses covered the period 1995Q1-2015Q1. Data were analyzed by applying the technique of seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) modeling. <br><br>RESULTS: We found a positive and statistically significant association between population drinking and all harm indicators. A 1 L increase in per capita consumption was associated with a 19% increase in cirrhosis mortality and a 17% increase in drink driving. The effects on the other harm rates were estimated to be between 11% and 13%. These estimates are in line with earlier findings except the estimate for cirrhosis, which was weaker and now similar to findings for other countries. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The results provide continuing support for a strong relationship between population drinking and alcohol-related harm in Sweden. Policy measures aimed at lowering the level of drinking gained support from these results.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1937-1888
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -