TY - JOUR
PY - 2019//
TI - "Everyone has the right to drink beer": a stakeholder analysis of challenges to youth alcohol harm-reduction policies in Lebanon
JO - International journal of environmental research and public health
A1 - Nakkash, Rima T.
A1 - Ghandour, Lilian A.
A1 - Yassin, Nasser
A1 - Anouti, Sirine
A1 - Chalak, Ali
A1 - Chehab, Sara
A1 - El-Aily, Aida
A1 - Afifi, Rima A.
SP - e16162874
EP - e16162874
VL - 16
IS - 16
N2 - BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is a major risk factor in premature death and disability, especially among youth. Evidence-based policies to prevent and control the detrimental effect of alcohol use have been recommended. In countries with weak alcohol control policies-such as Lebanon, stakeholder analysis provides critical information to influence policy interventions. This paper assesses the views of stakeholders regarding a national alcohol harm reduction policy for youth.
METHODS: We interviewed a total of 22 key stakeholders over a period of 8 months in 2015. Stakeholders were selected purposively, to include representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations and industry that could answer questions related to core intervention areas: affordability, availability, regulation of marketing, and drinking and driving. We analyzed interview transcripts using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Three themes emerged: Inadequacy of current alcohol control policies; weak governance and disregard for rule of law as a determinant of the status quo; and diverting of responsibility towards 'other' stakeholders. In addition, industry representatives argued against evidence-based policies using time-worn strategies identified globally.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that alcohol harm reduction policies are far from becoming a policy priority in Lebanon. There is a clear need to shift the narrative from victim blaming to structural conditions. Language: en
LA - en
SN - 1661-7827
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16162874
ID - ref1
ER -