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Frequency and Intensity of Alcohol Consumption: New Evidence from Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Heckley, Gawain A.

    (Dept. of Clinical Science, Lund University)

  • Jarl, Johan

    (Dept. of Clinical Science, Lund University)

  • Gerdtham , Ulf-G.

    (Department of Economics, Lund University)

Abstract

This paper provides an extensive analysis of the demand for alcohol in terms of total quantity and quantity subdivided into frequency and intensity demand. The analysis compares across alcohol types (beer, wine and spirits), alcohol drinking pattern (average drinker vs. binge drinkers) and also how these decisions differ across gender. The analysis is based on a large sample of cross-sectional data from Sweden 2004-11. The results show a positive socioeconomic (income and education) gradient in quantity. This gradient is generally positive in the frequency decision while negative in the intensity decision. Women predominantly choose to drink wine and show a strong positive socioeconomic gradient in both frequency and intensity demand for wine. Binge drinkers show less of a differentiation across alcohol types and this is true even of binge drinking women. Smoking is universally positively associated with quantity, frequency and intensity of alcohol demand with the exception of wine binge drinkers. The results highlight that while quantity consumed has a positive socioeconomic gradient, policies targeted at the less affluent and less educated are likely to have the greatest impact in reducing the social cost of alcohol and in reducing the socioeconomic gradient in health and socioeconomic related health inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Heckley, Gawain A. & Jarl, Johan & Gerdtham , Ulf-G., 2014. "Frequency and Intensity of Alcohol Consumption: New Evidence from Sweden," Working Papers 2014:25, Lund University, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:hhs:lunewp:2014_025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jo�o Rebelo & Ra�l Comp�s & Samuel Faria & T�nia Gon�alves & Vicente Pinilla & Katrin Sim�n-Elorz, 2021. "Wine consumption frequency during lockdown in the Iberian markets," Documentos de Trabajo dt2021-02, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Zaragoza.
    2. Rebelo, João & Compés, Raúl & Faria, Samuel & Gonçalves, Tânia & Pinilla, Vicente & Simón-Elorz, Katrin, 2021. "Covid-19 Lockdown and Wine Consumption Frequency in Portugal and Spain," Working Papers 321853, American Association of Wine Economists.
    3. Aisha Baisalova, 2022. "Exploring Border Effects: Sensitivity of Cigarette Consumption to Excise Tax," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp726, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    4. Akram Hernández-Vásquez & Horacio Chacón-Torrico & Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández & Leandro Nicolás Grendas & Guido Bendezu-Quispe, 2022. "Gender Differences in the Factors Associated with Alcohol Binge Drinking: A Population-Based Analysis in a Latin American Country," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    5. Nabanita Datta Gupta & Anton Nielsson, 2017. "Short- and Long-Term Effects of Adolescent Alcohol Access: Evidence from Denmark," Economics Working Papers 2017-03, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    6. Pongpat Putthinun & Somtip Watanapongvanich & Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2021. "Financial Literacy and Alcohol Drinking Behavior: Evidence from Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Alfred K. Mukong & Ernest N. Tingum, 2018. "The Demand for Cigarettes: New Evidence from South Africa," Working Papers 745, Economic Research Southern Africa.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Alcohol; demand; drinking pattern; binge drinking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality

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