Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39468768›Full record

ArticleDrug and alcohol review2025

Public and professional stakeholders' perceptions of alcohol advertising and availability policies: A qualitative study.

Elena D Dimova, Niamh K Shortt, Matt Smith, Richard J Mitchell, Peter Lekkas, Jamie R Pearce, Tom L Clemens, Carol Emslie

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drug and alcohol review, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. 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

8 authors.

Elena D DimovaGlasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3256-7170
Niamh K ShorttCentre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Matt SmithGlasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Richard J MitchellMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute for Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Peter LekkasCentre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Jamie R PearceCentre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Tom L ClemensCentre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Carol EmslieGlasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.

Funding

Chief Scientist Office SPHSU19Economic and Social Research Council ES/S016775/1UK Medical Research Council MC_UU_00022/4
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionReducing alcohol availability and restricting alcohol advertising are effective ways to reduce harm from alcohol. Implementation of public health policies involves collaboration between different stakeholders, and is influenced by public opinion. This paper explores public and professional stakeholders' perceptions of alcohol advertising and availability policies. It is the first to capture consensus and divergence in narratives of these stakeholders.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 stakeholders from third sector organisations, government, public health and alcohol licensing in Scotland. We conducted 11 online focus groups with 45 participants, living in neighbourhoods in Scotland characterised by varying levels of urbanity, deprivation and retail density change. We gave participants a list of policies and discussed their views on acceptability, feasibility and likely success.

resultsDespite general consensus that regulation of alcohol advertising is an important priority, public stakeholders were concerned about the feasibility of advertising interventions and potential unintended consequences. While professional stakeholders were in favour of regulating alcohol availability, public stakeholders had misgivings about feasibility and effectiveness. When prompted to discuss specific interventions, similar views about protecting children and achieving cultural change emerged. DISCUSSION AND

conclusionsThis study highlights the importance of policy makers and other stakeholders to consider public stakeholders' opinions on alcohol policy and understanding that their views may be influenced by competing framings of alcohol problems. Attempts to increase support for alcohol control policies need to consider people's concerns about the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences of these policies, and the wider social context of alcohol consumption.

Indexed as

AdvertisingAlcohol DrinkingAlcoholic BeveragesHealth PolicyPublic OpinionStakeholder ParticipationAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchScotlandadvertisingalcoholavailabilitypolicypublic health

Identifiers

PMID39468768
PMCPMC11743051

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.