EuropeanEuropean ComparativeComparative AlcoholAlcohol StudyStudyEuropeEurope and and AlcoholAlcohol Policy Policy

Thomas Karlsson & Esa Österberg National Research and Development Centre forWelfare and HealthAlcohol and Drug Research GroupP.O.BOX 220FIN-00531 HelsinkiFinland

European Comparative Alcohol Study (ECAS) was launched inAugust 1998 with the financial aid of the European Commission DGV Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs.

The study period was 1950-2000 and the study consisted all memberstates of the European Union as of 1998, and Norway, here called theECAS countries.

The ECAS project produced country descriptions of alcohol policiespublished in: Österberg, E. & Karlsson, T. (Eds)(2002) Alcohol Policiesin EU Member States and Norway. A Collection of Country Reports(Helsinki, Stakes). The country reports were produced in collaborationwith national contact persons.

One tool constructed in the ECAS project was a quantitative scalemeasuring the strictness and comprehensiveness of alcohol controlpolicies.

The ECAS scale for measuring the strictness of alcohol control policiesThe ECAS scale for measuring the strictness of alcohol control policiesCONTROL OF PRODUCTION AND WHOLESALE1. State monopoly for the production or wholesale of Spirits (1

p.)Wine (1 p.)Beer (1 p.)

2. No production or wholesale monopolies but a licence is required for the production or wholesale of alcoholic beverages (1 p.)

CONTROL OF DISTRIBUTION3. State monopoly for off- or on-premise retail sales of Spirits

(1 p.) Wine (1 p.)

Beer (1 p.)

4. No monopoly for off- or on-premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages but an alcohol specific licence is needed for off- or on-premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages (1 p.)

5. Special restrictions on sales days and hours in off- premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages (1 p.)

6. Other special restrictions on off-premise sales of alcoholic beverages (1 p.)

7. Special restrictions on sales days and hours in on- premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages (1 p.)

8. Other special restrictions on on-premise sales of alcoholic beverages (1 p.)

PERSONAL CONTROL9. Legal age limit for off-premise sales at least

20 for some alcoholic beverages (1½ p.)18 for some alcoholic beverages (1 p.)16 for some alcoholic beverages (½ p.)

10. Legal age limit for on-premise sales at least20 for some alcoholic beverages (1½ p.)18 for some alcoholic beverages (1 p.)16 for some alcoholic beverages (½ p.)

CONTROL OF MARKETING11. Restrictions on alcohol advertising:

Statutory control (2 p.)Voluntary code (1 p.)

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS12. Drunk driving:

BAC 0.05% or less (3 p.)BAC 0.08% or less (2 p.)BAC more than 0.08 % (1 p.)

PUBLIC POLICY13. National alcohol prevention programme or agency (1 p.)

14. National alcohol education programme or agency (1 p.)

Excise taxes on alcoholic beverages in the ECAS countries according to Excise taxes on alcoholic beverages in the ECAS countries according to beverage categories in July 2000, Euros per litre alcoholbeverage categories in July 2000, Euros per litre alcohol

Distilled Intermediate spirits products Wine Beer

EU minimum rate 5.50 2.50 0.00 1.87Italy 6.45 2.75 0.00 3.50Spain 6.85 2.55 0.00 1.68Portugal 8.14 2.63 0.00 2.81Greece 9.45 2.60 0.00 2.92Austria 10.03 4.04 0.00 5.21Germany 13.04 8.52 0.00 1.97France 14.50 11.86 0.30 2.59Netherlands 15.04 4.71 4.43 4.26 Belgium 16.61 5.51 4.28 4.28 Ireland 27.62 22.01 24.82 19.87United Kingdom 30.10 17.59 21.59 18.30Denmark 36.99 7.88 8.62 9.30 Finland 50.46 39.24 21.41 28.59Sweden 57.35 28.70 28.28 16.81

10

12.5

87

78.5 8

11.5 1313

12 13

14.516.5

01 1

24 4 4

6 67

8 8

17 17.5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Spain

France

Por

tuga

l

Gre

ece

Aust

ria

Den

mar

k

Ger

man

y

Bel

gium

Net

herla

ndsIt

aly

Irel

and

Unite

d Kin

gdom

Fin

land

Swed

en

The strictness and comprehensiveness of alcohol control

policies in 15 European countries, 1950 and 2000

1950

2000

1.2

0.9

2.92.8

1.3

1.8

0.3

1.7

0.6

2.7

0.5

1.5

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

Control and

production of

wholesale

Control of

distribution

Personal

control

Control of

marketing

Social and

environmental

control

Public policy

The strictness and comprehensiveness of alcohol

control policies in the ECAS countries according to

subgroups of alcohol control, 1950 and 2000

1950

2000

The limitations of a quantitative scale:The limitations of a quantitative scale:

• Measures only formal alcohol control.

• Cannot (in practice) be comprehensive.

• Does not take into consideration howeffectively different laws and regulations areenforced.

• Measures alcohol control on a national level.

Control of off-premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages in the ECASControl of off-premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages in the ECAScountries in the year 2002countries in the year 2002

State Monopoly Licence No licenceAustria B, W, SBelgium B, W, SDenmark B, W, SFinland W, S B France B, W, SGermany B, W, SGreece B, W, SIreland B, W, SItaly B, W, SNetherlands B, W, SNorway W, S BPortugal B, W, SSpain B, W, SSweden W, S B United Kingdom B, W, S(B - Beer, W - Wine, S - Spirits)

Control of on-premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages in the ECASControl of on-premise retail sales of alcoholic beverages in the ECAScountries in the year 2002countries in the year 2002

State Monopoly Licence No licenceAustria B, W, SBelgium B, W, SDenmark B, W, SFinland B, W, S France B, W, SGermany B, W, SGreece B, W, SIreland B, W, SItaly B, W, SNetherlands B, W, SNorway B, W, S Portugal B, W, SSpain B, W, SSweden B, W, S United Kingdom B, W, S(B - Beer, W - Wine, S - Spirits)

Off-premise On-premiseBeer Wine Spirits Beer Wine Spirits

Austria 16 16 18 16 16 18Belgium - - 18 16 16 18Denmark 15 15 15 18 18 18Finland 18 18 20 18 18 18France 16 16 16 16 16 16Germany 16 16 18 16 16 18Greece - - 18 - - 18Ireland 18 18 18 18 18 18Italy 16 16 16 16 16 16Netherlands 16 16 18 16 16 18Norway 18 18 20 18 18 20Portugal - - - 16 16 16Spain 16 16 16 16 16 16Sweden 18 20 20 18 18 18United Kingdom 18 18 18 16 16 18

Age limits for on- and off-premise sales of alcoholic beverages in theAge limits for on- and off-premise sales of alcoholic beverages in theECAS countries in the year 2002ECAS countries in the year 2002

Primary form of regulation for alcohol advertisement and sponsorshipPrimary form of regulation for alcohol advertisement and sponsorshipin the ECAS countries in the year 2002in the ECAS countries in the year 2002

Statutory control Voluntary control No regulationAustria XBelgium XDenmark XFinland XFrance X Germany XGreece XIreland XItaly XNetherlands XNorway XPortugal XSpain XSweden XUnited Kingdom X

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits in traffic in theBlood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits in traffic in theECAS countries in the year 2002, in percent (%).ECAS countries in the year 2002, in percent (%).

BAC-limit (%)Austria 0.05Belgium 0.05Denmark 0.05Finland 0.05France 0.05Germany 0.05Greece 0.05Ireland 0.08Italy 0.05Netherlands 0.05Norway 0.02Portugal 0.02Spain 0.05Sweden 0.02United Kingdom 0.08

The existence of national alcohol prevention and educationThe existence of national alcohol prevention and educationprogrammes in the ECAS countries in the year 2002programmes in the ECAS countries in the year 2002

National alcohol National alcohol prevention programme education programme

AustriaBelgium X XDenmarkFinland X XFrance X XGermanyGreeceIreland X XItaly X XNetherlands X XNorway X XPortugal X XSpain X XSweden X XUnited Kingdom X X