Monitoring local alcohol prevention in Sweden: Application of Alcohol Prevention Magnitude Measure (APMM)

Abstract

AIMS - National alcohol policy in Sweden has to a certain extent grown weaker, and there has instead been an increased focus on strengthening local alcohol prevention. Swedish municipalities carry out a variety of alcohol prevention activities, but there is little knowledge of how the magnitude of all these activities has developed over time. One reason for this lack of information is the limitation of tools for monitoring prevention activities locally. The aim of this study is 1) to develop an Alcohol Prevention Magnitude Measure (APMM) based on local data and 2) to analyse the development of local alcohol prevention by using APMM. DATA - The APMM is based on 37 different indicators of local prevention. Data derives from web-based surveys comprising all Swedish municipalities and from information on licensed premises at the local level. RESULTS - The results reveal that local alcohol prevention in Sweden, as measured by the APMM, has increased generally between 2006 and 2010. The increase is the result of more local policies and activities. CONCLUSION - The results indicate that the APMM captures real changes at the local level, as the APMM increased significantly in community intervention municipalities compared to others