Abstract
Aims
The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between the total consumption of alcohol and alcohol-related harms in Iceland from 1990 to 2004.
Data
Time-series data on alcohol-related harm have been collected from public statistics, directorates, and surveys.
Results
Alcohol sales have increased from 4.6 to 6.7 litres of alcohol per 100 000 inhabitants aged 15 and over from 1988 to 2004, an increase of 46% in 16 years. In the study period, violent offences, drink driving, injuries by drink driving, and public intoxication show a downward trend with the exception of 2000, when violent offences, drink driving, and public intoxication all peaked. This increase is very likely caused by the changes in licensing policy in Reykjavik when pubs and bars in the city centre had unrestricted serving-hours. Morbidity and mortality rates have also declined or been stable, but are based on very low numbers, so random fluctuations may affect the data series.
Conclusions
Main findings of this study show a decrease in the alcohol-related harms in a period of strongly increasing alcohol consumption. The most likely explanation is that an extensive treatment service available for people with alcohol problems along with a high level of AA membership have decreased the rates of alcohol-related harms on the population level.