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Deconstructing the Alcohol Harm Paradox: A Population Based Survey of Adults in England

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Beard
  • Jamie Brown
  • Robert West
  • Colin Angus
  • Alan Brennan
  • John Holmes
  • Eileen Kaner
  • Petra Meier
  • Susan Michie

Abstract

Background: The Alcohol Harm Paradox refers to observations that lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups consume less alcohol but experience more alcohol-related problems. However, SES is a complex concept and its observed relationship to social problems often depends on how it is measured and the demographic groups studied. Thus this study assessed socioeconomic patterning of alcohol consumption and related harm using multiple measures of SES and examined moderation of this patterning by gender and age. Method: Data were used from the Alcohol Toolkit Study between March and September 2015 on 31,878 adults (16+) living in England. Participants completed the AUDIT which includes alcohol consumption, harm and dependence modules. SES was measured via qualifications, employment, home and car ownership, income and social-grade, plus a composite of these measures. The composite score was coded such that higher scores reflected greater social-disadvantage. Results: We observed the Alcohol Harm Paradox for the composite SES measure, with a linear negative relationship between SES and AUDIT-Consumption scores (β = -0.036, p

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Beard & Jamie Brown & Robert West & Colin Angus & Alan Brennan & John Holmes & Eileen Kaner & Petra Meier & Susan Michie, 2016. "Deconstructing the Alcohol Harm Paradox: A Population Based Survey of Adults in England," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0160666
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160666
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jin-Won Noh & Kyoung-Beom Kim & Jooyoung Cheon & Yejin Lee & Ki-Bong Yoo, 2019. "Factors Associated with Single-Use and Co-Use of Tobacco and Alcohol: A Multinomial Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Lucy Bryant & Carly Lightowlers, 2021. "The socioeconomic distribution of alcohol-related violence in England and Wales," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Sadie Boniface & Dan Lewer & Stephani L Hatch & Laura Goodwin, 2020. "Associations between interrelated dimensions of socio-economic status, higher risk drinking and mental health in South East London: A cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Emma Beard & Jamie Brown & Robert West & Eileen Kaner & Petra Meier & Susan Michie, 2019. "Associations between socio-economic factors and alcohol consumption: A population survey of adults in England," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-15, February.

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