Policies to Prevent Alcohol Problems: A Research Agenda for 2010-2015

Summarizes policy research priorities with a focus on alcohol-related problems or high-risk drinking involving those not identified as dependent drinkers, including questions of state and local accountability, availability of alcohol, and retail price

Secondary Stakeholder Influence on CSR Disclosure: An Application of Stakeholder Salience Theory

The aim of this study is to analyse how secondary stakeholders influence managerial decision-making on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure. Based on stakeholder salience theory, we empirically investigate whether differences in environmental disclosure among companies are systematically related to differences in the level of power, urgency and legitimacy of the environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with which these companies are confronted. Using proprietary archival data for an international sample of 199 large companies, our results suggest that differences in environmental disclosures between companies are mainly associated with differences between their environmental stakeholders’ legitimacy. The effects of power and urgency are of an indirect nature, as they are mediated by legitimacy. This study improves our understanding of CSR disclosure by demonstrating that, next to the well-documented effect of company characteristics, stakeholder characteristics are also important. Besides, it provides scarce empirical evidence that not only primary stakeholders, but also secondary stakeholders are influential with regards to management decision-making. And more specifically, it offers insight into why some stakeholder groups are better able to influence disclosure decisions than other. The results also have important practical implications for managers of both environmental NGOs and large companies. For managers of environmental NGOs the results provide evidence of the most successful tactics for having their environmental information demands satisfied by companies. For company management the results provide insights into the most important stakeholder characteristics, on the basis of which they may develop strategies for proactively disclosing environmental information

The role and effectiveness of alcohol policy at the local level: international experiences.

This paper outlines several case studies where community program-based efforts have been used to prevent or reduce alcohol problems. These include a programme in Rhode Island, USA, where three communities were selected for a survey. Two of the towns served as controls, with the third selected for intervention. Among the interventions was a training program for alcohol servers, which included enhanced enforcement of liquor laws and DWI laws. Outcomes were positive, with an a 27% increase in alcohol-related assault arrests, and a reduction in emergency room visits; a 9% reduction was seen for injury, 21% for assault and a 10% reduction for motor vehicle crashes. No such reduction was witnessed in the control communities. Several other case studies are included from around the world, where local communities have used a range of scientific methods to actively reduce harm to the community. The case studies reviewed listed show the potential for theory-driven community action to reduce local alcohol problems

Alcohol and older people.

Alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm, whether in the form of chronic disease or acute harm, has increased amongst Sweden’s elderly in recent years. The percentage of the population classified as elderly has increased and will continue to do so. Prevention of disease and harm, including alcohol-related disease and harm, is, therefore, very important – both for all those at risk and for the health and medical care sector. The report addresses the elderly’s increased sensitivity to the effects of alcohol which, in combination with the ageing process, may increase the risk of disease and accidents, even at relatively low consumption levels. It describes the relationship between alcohol and various diseases and problems from which the elderly may suffer, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, and cancer. The report also highlights the significance of lifetime lifestyles for health in old age

Alcohol and society 2020: Alcohol, pregnancy and infant health – a shared responsibility.

This report aims to emphasise parenthood and the relationship with alcohol as a shared responsibility and an important equality issue. It is important that everyone involved is fully familiar with the potential risks associated with alcohol to ensure they can take informed decisions. Key recommendations • Policies which reduce the availability, affordability and marketing of alcohol are needed to sustain a low risk environment for alcohol-related birth abnormalities. • There is a shared responsibility for society at large and healthcare providers to raise awareness of the risks of prenatal alcohol exposure and provide support to pregnant women and their partners to manage these risks and their consequences. • Persons planning a pregnancy, women as well as their partners, can improve the probability of a healthy pregnancy outcome by abstaining or minimise alcohol exposure. • It is safest to abstain from any alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Partners may also choose to abstain from drinking during this period, and if they choose to continue drinking they should do so within low-risk guidelines. • It is also safest to avoid alcohol exposure while breastfeeding. Those who choose to drink during breastfeeding should limit consumption to 1 standard drink, consumed 2 hours prior to breastfeeding. • An expert national centre should be established in Sweden charged with developing strategies to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure, monitor prevalence of exposure and provide training in screening and treatment