Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25312002›Full record

ArticleJournal of public health (Oxford, England)2015

Representations of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in UK newspapers: a case study of a public health policy debate.

Chris Patterson, Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi, Karen Wood, Shona Hilton

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of public health (Oxford, England), 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Drug Consumption Rooms and Public Health Policy: Perspectives of Scottish Strategic Decision-Makers.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Media Coverage of Alcohol Issues: A Critical Political Economy Framework-A Case Study from Ireland.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2017
    Article
  17. Devolution of power, revolution in public health?Journal of public health (Oxford, England) · 2017
    Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Chris PattersonMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Srinivasa Vittal KatikireddiMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Karen WoodMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Shona HiltonMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

Funding

Chief Scientist Office SPHSU1Chief Scientist Office SPHSU15Medical Research Council MC_U130059812Medical Research Council MC_U130085862Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/15Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/4Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/6
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMass media influence public acceptability, and hence feasibility, of public health interventions. This study investigates newsprint constructions of the alcohol problem and minimum unit pricing (MUP).

methodsQuantitative content analysis of 901 articles about MUP published in 10 UK and Scottish newspapers between 2005 and 2012.

resultsMUP was a high-profile issue, particularly in Scottish publications. Reporting increased steadily between 2008 and 2012, matching the growing status of the debate. The alcohol problem was widely acknowledged, often associated with youths, and portrayed as driven by cheap alcohol, supermarkets and drinking culture. Over-consumption was presented as a threat to health and social order. Appraisals of MUP were neutral, with supportiveness increasing slightly over time. Arguments focused on health impacts more frequently than more emotive perspectives or business interests. Health charities and the NHS were cited slightly more frequently than alcohol industry representatives.

conclusionEmphases on efficacy, evidence and experts are positive signs for evidence-based policymaking. The high profile of MUP, along with growing support within articles, could reflect growing appetite for action on the alcohol problem. Representations of the problem as structurally driven might engender support for legislative solutions, although cultural explanations remain common.

Indexed as

Alcohol DrinkingCosts and Cost AnalysisHealth PolicyHumansNewspapers as TopicPublic HealthPublic PolicyQualitative ResearchUnited Kingdomalcoholcontent analysismediapolicy

Identifiers

PMID25312002
PMCPMC4340327

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.