The public-private decision for alcohol retail systems: examining the economic, health, and social impacts of alternative systems in Finland

Sherk, A. et al. (2023) The public-private decision for alcohol retail systems: examining the economic, health, and social impacts of alternative systems in Finland. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 40(3), pp. 218-232. (doi: 10.1177/14550725231160335) (PMID:37255607) (PMCID:PMC10225965)

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Abstract

Background: Organising alcohol retail systems with more or less public ownership has implications for health and the economy. The aim of the present study was to estimate the economic, health, and social impacts of alcohol use in Finland in 2018 (baseline), and in two alternative scenarios in which current partial public ownership of alcohol retail sales is either increased or fully privatised. Methods: Baseline alcohol-attributable harms and costs were estimated across five categories of death, disability, and criminal justice. Two alternate alcohol retail systems were defined as privately owned stores selling: (1) only low strength alcoholic beverages (public ownership scenario, similar to Sweden); or (2) all beverages (private ownership scenario). Policy analyses were conducted to estimate changes in alcohol use per capita. Health and economic impacts were modelled using administrative data and epidemiological modelling. Results: In Finland in 2018, alcohol use was estimated to be responsible for €1.51 billion (95% Uncertainty Estimates: €1.43 billion, €1.58 billion) in social cost, 3,846 deaths, and 270,652 criminal justice events. In the public ownership scenario, it was estimated that alcohol use would decline by 15.8% (11.8%, 19.7%) and social cost by €384.3 million (€189.5 million, €559.2 million). Full privatisation was associated with an increase in alcohol use of 9.0% (6.2%, 11.8%) and an increase in social cost of €289.7 million (€140.8 million, €439.5 million). Conclusion: The outcome from applying a novel analytical approach suggests that more public ownership of the alcohol retail system may lead to significant decreases in alcohol-caused death, disability, crime, and social costs. Conversely, full privatisation of the ownership model would lead to increased harm and costs.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This study was funded by Alko, the Finnish public partial alcohol retail system.
Keywords:Alcohol-caused harms, alcohol policy, alcohol retail systems, alcohol use, modelling study.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Meier, Professor Petra
Authors: Sherk, A., Stockwell, T., Sorge, J., Churchill, S., Angus, C., Chikritzhs, T., Holmes, J., Meier, P., Naimi, T. S., Norström, T., Ramstedt, M., and Simpura, J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:1455-0725
ISSN (Online):1458-6126
Published Online:15 March 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2023 The Authors
First Published:First published in Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 40(3): 218-232
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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