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(Draft) ProposalThai youth is at risk: affordability and

availability of alcoholic beverages

Weranuch WongwatanakulCenter for Alcohol Studies, ThailandInternational Health Policy Program

Special Journal Club 26 Oct 2010

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Background

• This project proposal is a research project funded by Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS), International Health Policy Program (IHPP)

• Co-author with Assoc. Prof. Churai Tupvong

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Rationale

• Recent evidence indicated that the average age having the first drink of Thai youth tend to be younger.

• This trend leads to the increasing numbers of new drinkers and underage drinkers.

• The sooner the youth drink, the greater individual health effects they will get in the long run.

• It may lead to the greater burden of disease and the lower quality of human resource at the aggregate level over time.

• It is questionable whether affordability or availability of alcoholic beverages effects Thai youth drinking, or both.

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Objective

• To investigate factors, both pro and con, associate with Thai youths’ decision to have their first drink

• To examine whether affordability, availability, or other factors effect Thai youths who likely to have their first drink

• To determine the magnitude of associations between affordability and youths’ decision to have their first drink

Expected output• To provide policy recommendation that can prolong Thai

youths not to start drinking 4

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Methodology• Framework

– To focus on youth who likely to start drinking (13-14 yrs)– To classify selected youth broadly by their drinking status– Then, to examine factors associate with their drinking behavior

• Quantitative analysis– to identify the magnitude of factors associate with youth’s

decision• to continue drinking• to quit drinking• to start drinking• not to drink

• Qualitative analysis – To investigate factors associate with youth drinking behaviour

for youth who likely to start drinking or having their first drink– To examine youths’ opinions toward alcohol price, the increase

of alcohol price, and their affordability

Study duration 8 months 5

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15 – 19 yrs

13 – 14 yrs

11 – 12 yrs

Thai Youth

13 – 14 yrs

Had their first drink Never drink

Decide to quit drinking

Continue to drink

Would like to drink

Won’t drink anyway

Purposive samplingN = 1,200 (for quantitative analysis)at Pathumthani

Y1 Y3Y2 Y4

This study will provide an evidence indicating the factors associate with sample of youths’ decision to or not to drink. It do not represent associations at population level

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Decide to quit drinking

Continue to drink

Would like to drink

Won’t drink anyway

Y1 Y3

Y2 Y4

Peer pressure

Social Availability

Affordability

Physical Availability

Exposure to Alcohol advertising

Attitude

Socio-economicstatus

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Quantitative analysis

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DATA Self-reported questionnatire sureveyn = 1,200

MEASURES Dependent variablesY1 = had the first drink, and continue to drinkY2 = had the first drink, but decide to quit drinkingY3 = never drink, but would like to drinkY4 = never drink, and won't drink anyway

Independent variablesAffordability : whether they can or can't afford to buy alcoholPhysical availability : whether they can buy alcohol by themselvesSocial availability : whether somebody provides them alcoholPeer pressure : whether persons close to them drink or invite them to drinkExpose to Advertisement : whether they expose or recall to brandAttitude : their attitude toward drinking

Socio-economic status : whether they wealthy enough to buy alcohol or be provided by their family members

ANALYSIS Regression

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Qualitative analysis

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DATA Focus group interview

(students, teachers, parents)

total n = 150

In-depth Interview

(students, teachers, parents, polices)

total n = 50

MEASURES Drinking status, drinking frequency, reasons for drinking

Accessibility of alcohol, social supply, drinking place

Financial source to buy alcohol, amount to spend per drinking occasion

Opinions toward alcohol price, whether it is cheap or expensive

Opinions toward the increase of alcohol price, whether they still can afford

For drinker, do they plan to continue or quit drinking? Why?

ANALYSIS Descriptive analysis

Content analysis

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Discussion

Thank You10