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Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe:
results from RARHA survey E. Scafato ,
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy
LOOKING HOW TO REDUCE ALCOHOL RELATED HARM
SHARING THE RESULTS RARHA - FINAL CONFERENCE
Work Package “Guidelines”
• Co-led by the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland, and Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy
• Nearly 50 partners from 26 expert organizations based in 20 countries
Surveys to update state of play and background papers to summarize science underpinnings regarding
▪ low risk drinking guidelines ▪ brief intervention practices ▪ standard drink concept ▪ guidance for young people
Seeking broader views by means of
Delphi surveys with ▪ public health and addiction experts ▪ experts on young people Online survey of consumer views Expert meetings ▪ Rome & Brussels 2014 ▪ Helsinki 2016 ▪ CNAPA 2014-2016
3 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
The RARHA survey task 1 and 2
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
4 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Standard Drink
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
5 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Standard Drink concept currently used
RARHA
RARHA survey
SD in grams of pure alcohol:
19
2 91
19
2 101
30
21
21 7
0
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es
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Review WHO 2012 WHO 2013 OECD 2014
no
. o
f C
ou
ntr
ies
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
AU
STR
IA (
20
)
CR
OA
TIA
(10
; 1
4)
CZE
CH
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(1
6)
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MA
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FIN
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12
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GER
MA
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GR
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IREL
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10
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10
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10
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UN
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GD
OM
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Mean= Median=
11
6 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Standard Drink concept currently used in:
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
7 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Low Risk Guidelines (GL)/Recommendations (R)
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
8 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Low Risk GL/R issued
RARHA
Revision (yrs):
2010
0 112
8
107
2420
31 7
0
31Ye
s
No
mis
sing
dat
a
Coun
try
not
inve
stig
ated Ye
s
No
mis
sing
dat
a
Coun
try
not
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stig
ated Ye
s
No
mis
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stig
ated Ye
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No
mis
sing
dat
a
Coun
try
not
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stig
ated
Review WHO 2012 WHO 2013 OECD 2014
no
. o
f C
ou
ntr
ies
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
22
5
2
2
Yes No missing data Country not investigated
*
* Hungary and Lithuania have recommended limits
9 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
WEEK low risk GL/R (in g)
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
10 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
DAY low risk GL/R (in g)
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey E. SCAFATO 2014
11 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
RARHA Low risk GL or R
17
523
4
Guidelines (GL) Recommendations (R) Not investigated Countries Missing data No GL or R
105 2
Day D+W Week
Guidelines
14
Day D+W Week
Recommendations
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
12 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
RARHA Low risk GL or R A
vera
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Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
05
101520253035404550
AU
STR
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4)
BE
LGIU
M
BU
LGA
RIA
CR
OA
TIA
(4
0)
CYPR
US
CZEC
H R
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BLI
C (4
0)
DE
NM
AR
K (2
4)
ESTO
NIA
(40
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FIN
LAN
D (
20
)
FRA
NC
E (3
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GER
MA
NY
(24
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GR
EECE
(30
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HU
NG
AR
Y (2
4-4
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LAN
D
IREL
AN
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4)
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UA
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MA
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NE
TH
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NO
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(20)
RO
MA
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KIA
SLO
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SPA
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FIN
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10
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GER
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GR
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AR
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LAT
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(20
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(12)
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NET
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UN
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Women
E. SCAFATO 2014
13 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Average alcohol intake in a day not to be exceeded (g pure alcohol)
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey E. SCAFATO 2014
14 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Binge Drinking
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
11
9
9
2
Guideline Recommendation No GL/Rec Not investigated
15 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
RARHA Binge Drinking GL or R
4
1
64
2 3
By
gen
de
r
By
gen
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r an
d A
ll
All
con
sum
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Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
16 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
RARHA Binge Drinking Maximum intake per drinking occasion (g pure alcohol)
0102030405060708090
AU
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IA
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60
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MA
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NET
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(TH
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NO
RW
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(60)
POR
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(60)
RO
MA
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SLO
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KIA
SLO
VEN
IA (
50)
SPA
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0)
SWED
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SWIT
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D (4
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UN
ITED
KIN
GD
OM
(8 S
U)
Men
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AU
STR
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BEL
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M
BU
LGA
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CR
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CYPR
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(60)
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TO
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LAN
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HU
NG
AR
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D
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(40-
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LUXE
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(60)
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NET
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(TH
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NO
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(40)
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UN
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(6 S
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Women
0
10
20
30
40
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AU
STR
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BE
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AR
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All consumers
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
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M
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AR
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(10
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RO
MA
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UN
ITE
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Age
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17 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Young People GL or R
6
10
510 12
19
1513
12
0
31
Yes
No
mis
sing
dat
a
Coun
try
not
inve
stig
ated Ye
s
No
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Coun
try
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No
mis
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Coun
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WHO 2012 WHO 2013 RARHA
no
. o
f C
ou
ntr
ies
WHO 2012 WHO 2013 RARHA
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey E. SCAFATO 2014
18 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Older People GL or R
6
21
22
Yes No missing data Country not investigated
RARHA
214
5
10
Yes No missing data Country not investigated
WHO 2012
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey E. SCAFATO 2014
19 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Pregnancy/ Breastfeeding GL or R
8
0
22
1 7 7 710
7
0
24
0
31
Ye
s
No
mis
sin
g d
ata
Co
un
try
no
t in
vest
igat
ed
Ye
s
No
mis
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g d
ata
Co
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try
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t in
vest
igat
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Ye
s
No
mis
sin
g d
ata
Co
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try
no
t in
vest
igat
ed
Review WHO 2012 WHO 2013
no
. of C
ou
ntr
ies
WHO 2012 WHO 2013REVIEW
25
4
2
Yes No Country not investigated
RARHA
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey E. SCAFATO 2014
20 Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: results from RARHA survey
Other guidelines:
www.rarha.eu
Consensus and differing views
in RARHA Delphi survey
on “low risk” drinking
www.rarha.eu
Joint Action RARHA – Work Package “Guidelines” 1
Starting Point
• Guidelines for limiting drinking in order to reduce risks of harm from alcohol are given in most EU countries.
• Lot of variation in the scope of guidelines, levels of drinking defined as low/high risk, and definitions of ”standard drink”.
• May confuse consumers when information is accessible across borders on the internet, on product labels ...
• May reduce the potential for effect of risk communication to reduce alcohol related harm.
Working methods
• Background papers to summarize the scientific basis as well as current definitions and practices to enable informed discussion.
• Two Delphi surveys to identify points of convergence and potential for consensus: • Issues around “low risk” drinking guidelines • Guidelines for reducing alcohol-relate harm for young people
• Meetings for exchange between experts and dialogue with decision-makers .
www.rarha.eu
Joint Action RARHA – Work Package “Guidelines” 2
Co-leaders
• National Institute for Health and Welfare THL (FI) • Istituto Superiore di Sanità ISS (IT)
Further Task leaders
• Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe LWL (DE) • Health Service Executive HSE (IE) • Eurocare (EU)
Participants
• Actively involved or as followers 34 partners from 24 countries
Delphi survey around “low risk” drinking
• In all 22 partners involved in the planning process • Methodological support provided by two additional experts • Core planning group comprising
Marjatta Montonen & Pia Mäkelä / National Institute for Health and Welfare (FI) Emanuele Scafato & Claudia Gandin / Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT) Sandra Coughlan /Health Service Executive (IE) Sandra Tricas-Sauras / Eurocare.
www.rarha.eu
RARHA Delphi survey on “low risk” drinking
The Delphi method
• Method developed for future forecasting and to provide material for decision making on complex issues.
• The Delphi process: survey of expert views in two or more rounds, with results fed back to respondents in between.
• Respondent anonymity to minimize the effect of speaker status and group dynamics. • The process leads to some degree of consensus and helps identify topics on which
positions differ.
The expert panel
• First round: 51 experts based in 27 countries • Second round: 41 experts based in 23 countries • 4/5 participating in both rounds
• strong expertise in the alcohol field considerable input from broader public health
Prevention primary secondary tertiary /universal /targeted /indicated
www.rarha.eu
Topics of the “low risk” Delphi survey
Drinking guidelines as a public health measure
• Conceptual clarification: purposes of drinking guidelines; “low” versus ”high” risk; drinking over longer terms versus on single occasion
• Need for gender-specific and age-specific guidelines
Methodological issues
• Scientific basis: use of mortality data; how to factor in morbidity and harms to others
Communication aspects
• How to prevent unwanted effects; groups and situations where general guidelines do not apply; particular harms to highlight in risk communication
Possibility to move towards common guidelines
• Desirability of a common definition of “low risk” drinking; how to set the threshold for “low risk”
Practical aspects related to the labelling of alcoholic beverages
• Usefulness of a common definition of “standard drink”; what health related information should be given on alcoholic beverage labels
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Drinking guidelines as a public health measure 1
Would you be supportive or against providing the general population with "low risk" drinking guidelines?
0
5
10
15
20
25
Totallysupportive
Somewhatsupportive
Undecided Somewhatagainst
Totally against
Round 1 (N=40)
Round 2 (N=39)
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Drinking guidelines as a public health measure 2
Rationale for communicating “low risk” drinking guidelines
• Consumers have the right to be informed about risks related to lcohol consumption
• It is the responsibility for governments to provide such information.
• The core message is about risk rather than safety.
Guidelines are needed separately concerning
• drinking over longer periods of time
• drinking on a single occasion.
Realistic expectations regarding effects
• “Low risk” drinking guidelines may help correct misconceptions
• Communication about “low risk”, “high risk” and single occasion drinking guidelines may contribute in the longer term to influencing attitudes and drinking patterns in the whole population.
• Drinking guidelines are just one tool in the portfolio of measures to curb alcohol-related harm.
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Drinking guidelines – to whom and for what purpose
Encourage ”at risk” drinkers reduce the amounts they are consuming
Inform alcohol consumers and others about alcohol related risks
Draw all alcohol consumers’ attention to the risks that may be involved in their drinking habits
”Low risk” drinking guidelines ”High risk” drinking guidelines
Single occasion drinking guidelines
The primary purpose of ”low risk” guidelines is to inform rather than immediately change drinking patterns.
Injuries and social harms
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Need for gender-specific drinking guidelines
Should the guideline on what consitutes a "low risk" level of drinking be different for women and for men
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Yes, the specification forlow risk level should be
different for women andmen.
Undecided No, the same specificationof low risk level can beapplied to women and
men
Round 1 (N=40) Round 2 (N=39)
• Physical differences (BAC levels) • Biological differences (mortality) • Specific risks (breast cancer) • Risk fo harm to the foetus • Broad acceptance of gender difference
• Alcohol is harmful for humans • Gender differences in risk are small • Women are less prone to risky behaviour • People adjust drinking according to effects • Easier to communicate a single guideline
Why different Why not the same
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Need for age-specific drinking guidelines: young people
Young people: Which age group/s, if any, should be covered by separate guideline/s?
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
15 year olds
16 year olds
17 year olds
18 year olds
19 year olds
20 year olds
21 year olds
22 year olds
23 year olds
24 year olds
25 year olds
No separate "low risk" guidelines for young people
• 18year olds • No ”low risk”
guidelines for young people
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Need for age-specific drinking guidelines: older people
• For the age group 65 years and over • Clear statement on the level of alcohol intake not to be exceeded • General statement about greater vulnerability due to biological changes • Specific risks to be highlighted
• Interference or interaction of alcohol with medication, in particular with central nervous system depressants.
• Comorbidities with alcohol use disorders or diseases that may increase the risk of alcohol related harm.
• Risk of injuries and accidents, including when driving.
Is there a need for specific drinking guidelines for older people?
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Methodological issues
• There is consistent evidence of a causal impact of the volume of alcohol consumption on a number of diseases.
Knowledge of causality and risks relating to alcohol needs strengthening.
Reliability and validity of self-reports of alcohol consumption deserves further attention.
Further reserch on heavy drinking patterns and the risk of alcohol related mortality and morbidity.
• At the moment, mortality data is the most usable measure of alcohol related health harm available for epidemiological analysis of risks.
• Morbidity data (e.g. DALYs) would bring added value but at the moment does not allow robust estimation of risk curves.
Further research on dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and morbidity.
• Quantifying harms to others would be useful background for formulating “low risk” guidelines.
• Further research may increase understanding of confounders and the relationship between alcohol consumption and health conditions but the main body of science in this area is likely to remain valid.
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Communication aspects
Points to highlight to prevent unwanted effects
• “Low risk” drinking does not mean “no risk”.
• The maximum for a single occasion does not mean that drinking up to that level is safe or that it is OK to drink that much every day.
• Occasional heavy drinking and daily drinking are both potentially harmful drinking patterns.
At-risk groups or high-risk situations that call for caution
• Use of medications
• Mental health problems / other addictions / family history of alcohol dependence
Situations where the safest option is not to drink at all
• During pregnancy / when driving / at work / in tasks that require concentration
Particular harms to highlight
• Increased risk of cancer
• Risk of adverse effects on the family
Positive effects of alcohol
• No messages or messages to correct misconceptions
www.rarha.eu
Messages reharding alcohol and pregnancy – Examples
Avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive
• UK Chief Medical Officers’ guideline, January 2016:
• “If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all.”
• “Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink the greater the risk.”
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Signs report, February 2016
• “About half of all US pregnancies are unplanned and, even if planned, most women do not know they are pregnant until they are 4-6 weeks into the pregnancy. - - - It is recommended that women who are pregnant or might be pregnant not drink alcohol at all.
USA 1989 France 2007 UK 2007
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Health related information on alcoholic beverage labels 1
Consumers should obtain full information on alcoholic beverages
• The calorie content
• percentage of daily intake
• All ingredients
• additives, preservatives, colouring substances
• All allergens
• Other nutrients
Consumers should be alerted to specific risks:
• alcohol consumption during pregnancy
• drink driving
• mixing alcohol with medications
• vulnerability of minors
• effects on the brain
• loss of self-control
• violence
• decreased perception of risk
• addictive nature of alcohol
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Health related information on alcoholic beverage labels 2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Packages YES NO Adverts YES NO
Round 1 (N=38) Round 2 (N=39)
YES • Consumer’s right • Coherent policy • Information gaps • Risks for others
NO • Risks are known • Too much info • Too small font • Campaigns better
Would it be useful from a public health perspective if warning messages about health or safety risks were required across the EU on alcoholic beverage packages
and/or on alcohol advertisements?
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Definiton of “standard drink”
• A common definition would widen the reach of consumer information campaigns while decreasing the possibility of misunderstanding
Alternative approaches
• Give up scientific precision in public communication: ”limit your consumption to X drinks a day”
• Display in grams pure alcohol the alcohol content of the bottle/can/box or of the serving on the price list.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Totally infavour
Somewhat infavour
Undecided Somewhatagainst
Totally against
Would you be for or against agreeing on a common definition of standard drink
Round 1 (N=38) Round 2 (N=39)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Totally infavour
Somewhat infavour
Undecided Somewhatagainst
Totally against
Would you be for or against requiring alcoholic beverage labels to indicate – in addition to the % abv – the grams pure alcohol
contained in the package
Round 1 (N=38) Round 2 (N=39)
www.rarha.eu
Delphi results: Moving towards common guidelines 1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Yes, a common concept wouldbe desirable
Undecided No, it would not be desirable
Round 1 (N=42)
Round 2 (N=39)
Would you consider it desirable for European public health bodies to agree on a common concept of "low risk" drinking?
LOOKING HOW TO REDUCE ALCOHOL RELATED HARM
SHARING THE RESULTS
RARHA - FINAL CONFERENCE
LOOKING HOW TO REDUCE ALCOHOL RELATED HARM
SHARING THE RESULTS
Lisbon . 13/14 October . 2016
Good practice principles for the use of low risk drinking guidelines as a public health tool
CONCLUSIONS
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Towards a common concept
• More authority and credibility, clearer and stronger.
• A co-ordinated effort by European countries to promote low risk guidelines using the same definition
would have a better chance of being accepted by the population.
However,
• National drinking guidelines have been introduced without coordination or international guidance.
• The WHO does not set limits for alcohol consumption ̶ “the ideal for health is not to drink at all.”
• Drinking guidelines in some countries have a long history.
• Public health bodies in some countries have chosen not to issue guidelines on low risk drinking.
• To effectively communicate low risk drinking guidelines to the population, pre-existing information
needs and perceptions need to be taken into account.
Nevertheless, a move towards a more aligned approach is possible
• Adopting the cumulative lifetime risk of death due to alcohol as a common metric for assessing the
risks from alcohol.
• Applying the good practice principles suggested by Joint Action RARHA.
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Good practice principles for drinking guidelines
Principles
• Drinking guidelines are not normative but informative.
• The core message is about risk, not safety.
• Guidelines should convey
evidence-based information on risks at different levels of alcohol consumption,
correct misconceptions about the likelihood of positive or negative health effects of alcohol,
and help alcohol consumers to keep the risk of adverse outcomes low.
Agreeing on a “European code on alcohol”
• Set of core messages applicable across diverse populations.
• To amplify the core message to alcohol consumers and the society at large.
• To provide a common reference and support for national action.
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Good practice principles for drinking guidelines
Components
• Daily drinking and occasional heavy drinking should both be highlighted as potentially harmful
drinking patterns.
Advice to limit average consumption over a longer period of time.
Advice to limit the amount drunk on any single occasion.
• Advising equally low consumption levels for men and women, while highlighting gender-
specific factors in verbal communication, should be considered.
• Guidance for healthy adults should be accompanied by guidance for various age groups, in
particular for older people.
• Advice should be provided concerning alcohol consumption in high-risk situations and at-risk
groups.
• While the focus in drinking guidelines is on health risks, it should be communicated that
limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding drunkenness also reduces the risk of social harms to
the drinker and to others.
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Good practice principles for drinking guidelines
Key messages
• Not drinking at all is the safest option
in pregnancy, childhood and adolescence
when driving, at work or engaged in tasks that require concentration.
• High-risk situations include
taking a medication that may interact with alcohol.
• At-risk groups include people with
other addictions, mental health problems or family history of alcohol dependence.
• Advice for older people should highlight risk of
adverse interactions with medications, co-morbidities and injuries.
• Specific harms to highlight include
increased risk of cancer, high blood pressure, addiction, depression, adverse effects on the brain,
overweight and adverse effects on the family.
• As low risk drinking guidelines are based on averages across populations, any individual should also
take into account their own characteristics and particular situation.
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Support measures at European and national level
Legislating for health relevant information on alcoholic beverage labels.
Ingredients and nutrition values
The amount of calories in the bottle or can
The amount of pure alcohol in the bottle or can, in grams of ethanol
Message/s on the health and safety risks related to alcohol consumption
Requiring information on health and safety risks on alcoholic beverage
packages and alcohol advertisements.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy; Vulnerability of minors
Drink driving; Mixing alcohol with medications
Effects on the brain; Addictive nature of alcohol
Loss of self-control; Violence; Decreased perception of risk
For effectiveness, health and safety messages should be:
Rotating – designed to fill in gaps in information
Clear and powerful
Highly visible, of sufficient size, placed on the front of containers
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Support measures at European and national level
• Applying and enforcing an age limit of minimum 18 years for the sale and serving
of any alcoholic beverages.
Organized and regular enforcement
Training for servers and retailers
Efforts to enhance public awareness and support for compliance with age limits
Effective use of sanctions ̶ suspension of alcohol license, closure order.
• For promoting awareness and enforcement, an integrated alcohol policy with a combination of
structural and individual prevention measures is needed rather than isolated actions.
• Supporting in particular primary health services to identify at-risk drinkers and offer advice to
reduce high-risk drinking.
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Experts would welcome a common concept of low risk drinking
Would you consider it desirable for European public health bodies to agree
on a common concept of "low risk" drinking?
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Yes, a commonconcept would be
desirable
Undecided No, it would not bedesirable
Round 1 (N=42)
Round 2 (N=39)
Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe:
results from RARHA survey
Thank you for your attention