International Alcohol Control Study in progress

Koreans, Mongolians and Thai researchers and a representative from the Western Pacific Regional Office of WHO were in Auckland New Zealand at the end of November 2011 in order to attend a Working Meeting held at the SHORE and Whariki Research Centre, School of Public Health, Massey University. The Working Meeting was held to plan for and provide training on the implementation of the International Alcohol Control (IAC) study in these countries next year.

The IAC project, which is modelled on the International Tobacco Control study, has been designed and implemented in New Zealand in 2011 by SHORE and Whariki researchers, funded by the Alcohol Advisory Council. The aim is to evaluate the effect of changes in alcohol policy and it measures, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of key issues such as how alcohol is obtained, where and when it is purchased, how much is paid and exposure of respondents to alcohol marketing as well as detailed measures of alcohol consumption.

‘This is an important project internationally as well as domestically’ says Professor Sally Casswell who leads the New Zealand project. ‘ It aims to provide usable tools for countries without long histories of alcohol research in order to provide evidence for policy makers on what policy changes will make a difference, and to help assess if changes do have the predicted impacts.’ Other countries seeking funding to participate include England, Scotland and Australia. ‘Implementation in countries with such very different alcohol markets provides a challenge but should be very worthwhile’ Professor Casswell adds.

For further information please contact Professor Sally Casswell s.casswell@massey.ac.nz