I. The Research: Alcohol Ban Support
Researchers measured beverage alcohol ban support among young people across the European Union (EU). They interviewed 37,253 respondents 15-24 years of age from 27 EU countries. They compared alcohol ban support in 2008 and 2014.
This information is important because public alcohol policy depends on public support. And, of course, young people are the future.
II. The Findings
Overall alcohol ban support fell from 8.9% in 2008 to 6.9% in 2014. However, there was great variance among EU countries.
| Country | 2008 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 5.9 | 4.7 |
| Belgium | 4.6 | 8.8 |
| Bulgaria | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| Cyprus | 8.9 | 4.3 |
| Czech Republic | 9.3 | 2.6 |
| Denmark | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| Estonia | 5.1 | 3.0 |
| Finland | 4.6 | 3.7 |
| France | 7.6 | 8.1 |
| Germany | 4.4 | 6.8 |
| Greece | 5.8 | 6.1 |
| Hungary | 7.4 | 6.3 |
| Ireland | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| Italy | 15.2 | 11.0 |
| Latvia | 13.8 | 8.2 |
| Lithuania | 10.0 | 17.1 |
| Luxembourg | 8.8 | 7.8 |
| Malta | 7.4 | 1.4 |
| Poland | 9.3 | 6.0 |
| Portugal | 12.1 | 8.2 |
| Romania | 22.3 | 15.1 |
| Slovakia | 14.9 | 10.4 |
| Slovenia | 6.5 | 3.1 |
| Spain | 13.7 | 6.9 |
| Sweden | 7.3 | 5.9 |
| The Netherlands | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| United Kingdom | 7.6 | 3.3 |
These findings stand in sharp contrast to a recent survey in the US. A CNN nation-wide poll of US adults found that 18% believed drinking should be illegal. Thats almost one in five. Thus tens of millions support nation-wide alcohol prohibition. No legal beer, wine or spirits. Not even National Prohibition (1920-1933) made drinking illegal. Surprised? Discover more at What did Prohibition Prohibit? It Wasn’t Drinking Alcohol.
The EU research also looked at drugs, including cannabis. Overall support for banning cannabis fell from 67.6 down to 53.7 six years later. Only in The Netherlands did it increase, going from 45.9 to 47.2. This is a great overall change and may proceed major changes in cannabis policy. Read the entire study for more specifics.
III. Source
Palladino, R., et al. Changes in support for bans of illicit drugs, tobacco, and alcohol among adolescents and young adults in Europe, 2008–2014. Int J Pub Health, 2017, 62(7), 1-9.
IV. Resources
Readings
- Berridge, V. Demons: Our Changing Attitudes to Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs. Oxford: Oxford U Press.
- European Commission. EU Citizens’ Attitudes towards Alcohol. Brussels: TNS Opinion.
- Kalafatelis, E, et al. Attitudes and Behaviour towards Alcohol Survey. Wellington, NZ: Health Promotion.
- Lancaster, B. and Dudleston, A. Attitudes towards Alcohol. Edinburgh: Scottish Exe.
- McGregor, B. Attitudes Toward Alcohol and Alcohol Consumption in Rural and Urban Adolescents. Canterbury, NZ: U Canterbury.
- Mintel Group. Attitudes towards Alcohol. London: Mintel.
- Yeomans, H. Alcohol and Moral Regulation. Public Attitudes. Chicago: Policy Press.
Note
This site gives no advice. Please see your doctor for that.