Evaluation of the national alcohol control strategy (Green Paper on Alcohol Policy) of Estonia

Abstract

Introduction

Estonia is a Baltic country with high adult alcohol per capita (APC) consumption. Since 2013, its alcohol control policy has been guided by the Green Paper on Alcohol Policy (GP), which is the equivalent of a non-binding national alcohol action plan. This contribution attempts to evaluate the overall impact of the GP on APC.

Methods

For the overall evaluation, APC was quantitatively compared for three periods: pre-GP (2000–2012), the core period of the GP (2013–2019) and the COVID-19 phase (2020–2022), using Analysis of Variance.

Results

APC decreased on average by 0.25 L of pure alcohol per year in the 7 years defined as the core period of the GP, whereas it increased in the other periods between 2001 and 2022 (period 2001–2012: +0.47 L; 2020–2022: +0.27 L). These differences were statistically significant (F [1, 18] = 5.22, p = 0.035). Moreover, there was no overall trend of decreasing APC during the core period of the GP in neighbouring countries (Latvia, Lithuania and Poland).

Discussion and Conclusions

The combination of the various measures of the national alcohol policy was associated with a marked decrease in APC.