Do changes in availability of alcohol affect the levels and patterns of drinking?
During recent years, two major changes have taken place that have affected availability of alcohol in the south of Sweden. The first change came about in October 2003 when Denmark lowered their taxes on spirits by 45 percent which corresponds to a reduction of the price of cheaper brands by about one fourth. The second change occurred in January 1st 2004, when travellers allowances were increased substantially. The implication of these two policy changes is a price reduction on alcoholic beverages for people living in the south of Sweden. The aim of the study is to investigate weather these policy changes have had an effect on the consumption of alcohol in the south of Sweden, using northern Sweden as a control site. The study uses representative samples of the adult population from the south and the north of Sweden. Telephone interviews have been conducted both prior to and after these policy changes. In both parts of Sweden 1500 respondents were interviewed in each of the 3rd and 4th
