Is it worth loosening restrictions on alcohol consumption in Lithuania? Scientists have the answer

Now, it seems that it is common that everyone does not arrive at the store at 8 pm, and on Sundays, at 3 pm, it is no longer possible to buy alcohol. Normal and you no longer see ads for alcoholic beverages. However, after the adoption of these laws, there was enormous dissatisfaction in the society and statements that such laws will not really reduce the delicate problems of Lithuania. By the way, everything must be regulated not by prohibitions but by education.

However, data collected by various scientists in recent years shows a slightly different situation. It turns out that the restrictions have a positive effect, and scientists say they really shouldn’t be abandoned. These conclusions were made at a conference held at the Seimas on Wednesday.

One of the conference participants is prof. Dr. Jiurgen Frame, Director of the Canadian Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Principal Investigator of the Center on Addiction and Mental Health.

The teacher used the example of Finland. According to him, in 2002 Finland lowered taxes on alcohol and, after these changes, overall mortality in society increased. Later, when Parliament decided to raise taxes, mortality dropped.

“In April and May 2017, overall mortality for various reasons clearly decreased in Lithuania. As the age limit for alcohol consumption was raised, so did mortality among 18-19 year olds.

Thus, the results show that the tax increases introduced in March 2017 were related to the avoidance of 1,155 deaths per year. In January 2018, the increase in the minimum age from which alcohol can be consumed has affected the mortality of young people between 18 and 19 years of age and especially of men, J. Frame.

Therefore, according to the professor, the introduction of higher taxes has reduced the availability of alcohol, as well as overall mortality.

“These policies have been instrumental in reducing mortality and increasing life expectancy, especially among men. […] There are many more steps that can help reduce alcohol consumption. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that all fiscal policies are in line with inflation. There have been positive trends in some countries with the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol. Such a measure helps to reduce high alcohol consumption ”, said the professor.

Many indicators related to alcohol consumption are improving in Lithuania

Head of the Health Research Institute, School of Public Health, LSMU Medical Academy, dr. Mindaugas Štelemėkas pointed out at the conference that the complex operation of politics is very important in controlling alcohol.

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights three of the most cost-effective, affordable, and best-performing tools to help combat alcohol abuse.

Like dr. M. Štelemėkas means increasing prices and excise duties, reducing the availability of alcohol and banning advertising. These measures work best in conjunction with age restrictions, drunk driving control, etc.

According to dr. M. Štelemėkas, the largest Lithuanian population, will see a turning point in 2008, when the implementation of integrated alcohol control began.

“Our average life expectancy was the lowest in 2015 compared to other countries in the European Union, in 2019 the situation was already better, but it did not reach the average,” said the speaker.

The world literature mentions that alcohol consumption is totally or partially associated with at least 50 or even up to 200 different diseases and groups of them. Many of these diseases could be prevented by adopting certain changes in alcohol control policies.

According to dr. According to M. Štelemėkas, research shows that many alcohol-related indicators are improving in Lithuania.

Thus, as the researcher said at the conference, it can be assumed that alcohol control policies are associated with increased life expectancy, especially among men. A comprehensive alcohol control policy may be associated with a decrease in overall mortality in Lithuania, excise taxes on alcohol have contributed to increased budget revenue, and restrictions on alcohol advertising may be related to a decrease in alcohol consumption. alcohol in adolescents. The weakening of the global alcohol policy may create preconditions for increased negative consequences of alcohol consumption in Lithuania.

Dr. According to Mindaugas Štelemėkas, existing restrictions on alcohol should be maintained, but further increases in excise duty can be considered. Lithuania still lags behind the overall health averages in terms of key health indicators, and the alcohol control policy mainly affects men, who are far behind the EU average in terms of health.

The researcher also referred to education, which is supposed to reduce alcohol consumption.

“Education, if it is expected to reduce alcohol consumption, does not work, it does not work. This is research. Education, as a means of disseminating information, as an additional and complex tool, is good, but not as an isolated tool aimed at reducing alcohol consumption, “said Dr. Mindaugas Štelemėkas. The conference was attended by Prof. Ilona Tamutienė also shared this view.

Most drunk workers, on Mondays

Another conference speaker, VMU Demographic Research Center junior researcher Dr. Daumantas Stumbrys presented a study looking at employee sobriety in the workplace. The results were somewhat surprising.

The data source for this study was a company providing sobriety testing services to employees in Lithuania. A total of 161 sobriety tests were collected from company employees, the data set consisted of more than 2.6 million verification tests.

According to the study, between 1,500 and 0.2 per thousand were registered in more than 2,500 workers, and 584 cases were registered above 1 ppm. Interestingly, the highest probability of encountering an employee at work while under the influence of alcohol is in the summer and winter months, in December and January. This is often due to holidays, as well as weekends.

The number of people intoxicated on Monday comes to work almost double than on Tuesday. Therefore, it is believed that Lithuanians often like to drink on Sundays before work.

Additionally, mortality from alcohol intoxication and alcohol-related causes of death increases on Sundays and Mondays.

The mean blood alcohol content of the intoxicated workers was 0.41 per thousand.

The European Standardized Alcohol Survey shows that Lithuanians consume alcohol relatively infrequently, but the amount of alcohol consumed at the same time is the highest of all the countries participating in the survey.

This study may show in part why Sunday’s limited alcohol shopping hours are beneficial to society.

“We should not divide alcohol users into ‘normals’ and ‘problematic’ and think why we ‘normals’ cannot afford to buy alcohol on Sunday night because of those others. The boundary between these two groups is very thin. When we have such a culture of alcohol, when we consume a lot, loss of jobs, wealth, families often push us towards problematic alcohol consumption. Therefore, I would suggest not to draw the dividing line between the two groups and to understand that each of us can find ourselves close to the border, ”said Dr. D. Stumbrys.

Calls not to relax the laws on alcohol

According to Vytautas Magnus University, Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy, Professor Ilona Tamutienė, in 2020, compared to 2015, fewer people than drunk people experienced physical violence, got involved in a serious dispute and felt unsafe in public places. This is proven by the standardized European alcohol test.

Although the trends are good and encouraging, the Lithuanian average in 2020 did not reach the EU average of 2015. This means that the situation is far from good.

“Assuming responsibility for the interests of public health, security and proclamation, it is recommended not to liberalize the alcohol policy, because the members of the Seimas take responsibility not only for economic interests, but also for public order, the safety and well-being “. Therefore, I would definitely recommend keeping that good direction ”, said prof. I. Tamutienė.

Vilnius University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Associate Professor dr. According to Vita Karpuškienė, the amount of alcohol consumed decreased in 2016-2019, but in 2020 the group of drinkers increased.

“Our research has been carried out for 5 years and we always ask the same question: have you been drinking in the last 12 months? Since 2016, the number of drinkers has increased in the last 12 months, except for 2020. Drinkers they drink less every month, that is, they change from 2 to 3 times to once, ”said Assoc. Dr. V. Karpuškienė.

The associate professor noted that during 2020, the number of casual users decreased.

Also doc. Dr. According to the research data, V. Karpuškienė composed a sociodemographic portrait of drinkers: mostly older men, of active working age, rural residents with secondary or lower education, more than half of them are not working. Their monthly income does not usually exceed 700 Eur.