ffAlcohol policies and their perceived effectiveness in BotswanaAlcohol policies and their perceived effectiveness in BotswanaAlcohol policies and their perceived effectiveness in Botswanap p

A j Mi k iAnja MirkovicAnja MirkovicjA i t d C ll f th Mid t (ACM) U i it f B tAssociated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM); University of BotswanaAssociated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM); University of Botswana

Lake Forest College Lake Forest IllinoisLake Forest College, Lake Forest, IllinoisLake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois

I t d tiIntroductionI B t it th t th t ’ l h l ti h h dIn Botswana, it seems that the country’s alcohol consumption has reached very , y p y

high proportions In a study conducted by the National AIDS Coordinating agencyhigh proportions. In a study conducted by the National AIDS Coordinating agency, g p p y y g g y,64 4% of males in the study reported that they voluntarily engage in drinking as64.4% of males in the study reported that they voluntarily engage in drinking as y p y y g g gopposed to the 35 5% of females who reported voluntary drinking episodes (Pitso &opposed to the 35.5% of females who reported voluntary drinking episodes (Pitso & Obot 2011) Even so alcohol consumption is still very prevalent in Botswana withObot, 2011). Even so, alcohol consumption is still very prevalent in Botswana with 26 5% current drinkers of which 21 9% and 15% are males and females respectively26.5% current drinkers, of which 21.9% and 15% are males and females respectively (MoTI 2010) Of those who consume alcohol 54% are binge drinkers who consume(MoTI, 2010). Of those who consume alcohol, 54% are binge drinkers who consume more than 5 drinks in one day Therefore it is very important to investigate themore than 5 drinks in one day. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the

ff f feffectiveness of the policies on alcohol reduction and also to establish if certaineffectiveness of the policies on alcohol reduction and also to establish if certain li i l ff ti th thpolicies are more or less effective than others. Results 60 00%policies are more or less effective than others.

F th h i d d if th l f B t d i ki i thResults

49%60.00%

Further research is needed if the people of Botswana are drinking in the same Out of all current drinkers 53 6% were males and 46 4% 42 90%49%

50.00%u t e esea c s eeded t e peop e o ots a a a e d g t e sa el d f i th i t th i t d ti f th li i Th

Out of all current drinkers 53.6% were males and 46.4% 42.90%

volumes and frequencies as they were prior to the introduction of these policies. The were females 69 57%of females reported that they 32 70%40.00%q y p peffect of higher prices could merely be a damaging effect on their financial position

were females. 69.57%of females reported that they 32.70%

30 00%effect of higher prices could merely be a damaging effect on their financial position consume alcohol as opposed to 30 43% who are 22.40%30.00%g p y g g p

and not in fact a reduction of their alcohol consumption consdering that in Botswanaconsume alcohol as opposed to 30.43% who are 20.00%and not, in fact, a reduction of their alcohol consumption consdering that in Botswana, abstaining 76 9% of males are consuming alcohol andp g

on average 20% of income is spent on alcoholabstaining. 76.9% of males are consuming alcohol and 10.00%on average, 20% of income is spent on alcohol. 23 1% decided to abstain from it Our study showed that 0 00%23.1% decided to abstain from it. Our study showed that 0.00%

Driving after Unprotected sex Memory loss due Missing school32 7% of participants have driven after drinking 22 4% Driving afterdrinkin

Unprotected sexafter drinking

Memory loss duedrinking

Missing schoolbecause of32.7% of participants have driven after drinking, 22.4%

h d d 42 9% h d ldrinkin after drinking drinking because of

drinkinghad unprotected sex, 42.9% had memory loss as a drinkinghad unprotected sex, 42.9% had memory loss as a f d i ki hil 49% i d h l Series1

f consequence of drinking while 49% missed school Series1

Purpose of the study consequence of drinking while 49% missed school b f d i ki M t f th ti i t d iPurpose of the study

Th f hi h i i i h h h i dbecause of drinking. Most of the participants engaged in

DiscussionThe purpose of this research is to investigate whether the imposedg p p g g

d i ki l k d (48 65%) hil i ifi t Discussion The purpose of this research is to investigate whether the imposed l h l li i B t ff ti i l h l d ti d h t

drinking only on weekend (48.65%) while significant •Significantly more males consume alcoholalcohol polices in Botswana were effective in alcohol reduction and what are

g y ( ) gpercentage engaged in drinking 3 5 times a week in •Significantly more males consume alcoholalcohol polices in Botswana were effective in alcohol reduction and what are

B t ’ ti f th i ff tipercentage engaged in drinking 3-5 times a week in

•Percentage of ones engaging in potentially harmfulBatswana’s perceptions of their effectiveness.p g g g g27 03% of occurances Percentage of ones engaging in potentially harmful Batswana s perceptions of their effectiveness. 27.03% of occurances.

behavior explains Government’s intention inAlmost 60% of participants reported they are drinking behavior explains Government s intention in Almost 60% of participants reported they are drinking Figure 2 reducing alcohol consumption through Alcohol Levythe same as they did before the tax was imposed asFigure 2. reducing alcohol consumption through Alcohol Levy

59 46% f ti i t t d d i ki i ththe same as they did before the tax was imposed as

•59.46% of participants reported drinking in the sameopposed to only 27% who reported they are drinking 59.46% of participants reported drinking in the same b f Al h l L i d

opposed to only 27% who reported they are drinking manner as before Alcohol Levy was imposed as less then before due to the price increase Both price a e as be o e co o e y as posed as

d t 27 03% h t d d i ki dless then before due to the price increase. Both, price

opposed to 27.03% who reported drinking more and increase and decrease of working hours showed to be pp p gonly 13 51% who reported drinking less This

increase and decrease of working hours showed to be ff f only 13.51% who reported drinking less. This ineffective, while decrease of working hours policy was y p g

suggests that Batswana tend to consume the sameineffective, while decrease of working hours policy was

i ifi tl ff ti th i i th i suggests that Batswana tend to consume the same significantly more effective than increase in the price. ggamount of alcohol regardless of the price and

significantly more effective than increase in the price. amount of alcohol regardless of the price and working hours of liquor storesworking hours of liquor stores•Decrease in working hours of liquor stores showed•Decrease in working hours of liquor stores showed

Fi 3 N b f lt i h t l b f d ft t di to be inefficient in alcohol consumption butFigure 3 Number of asults in hotel before and after extending to be inefficient in alcohol consumption, but working hours to 1 AM from 12 PM. significantly more efficient than increasing in pricesignificantly more efficient than increasing in price of alcohol through alcohol taxes, p<0.05.of alcohol through alcohol taxes, p<0.05.F t t di h ld l it di l ti•Future studies should use longitudinal one-timeFuture studies should use longitudinal one time

i d i th t t l tiseries design that measures actual consumptionseries design that measures actual consumption b f d ft i i t f l h lbefore and after increase in tax for alcohol on Figure 1 Conceptual model for the causal relationship

participants that are randoml selectedFigure 1. Conceptual model for the causal relationship between increased alcohol taxes and decreased participants that are randomly selected.between increased alcohol taxes and decreased

i l h l ti d l t d hp p y

excessive alcohol consumption and related harms.

A k l d tAcknowledgments gI would like to thank Bill Moseley for guidance help and motivation he provided I am thankful to the ACMI would like to thank Bill Moseley for guidance, help and motivation he provided. I am thankful to the ACM, Methods (Arial: 32 Points, Bold)University of Botswana Office of International education and partnership Office of research and development for

Methods (Arial: 32 Points, Bold)6 k 48 d 2 i i ll d i i li University of Botswana, Office of International education and partnership, Office of research and development for

ll i d i f i t d t t d•over 6 weeks, 48 surveys and 2 interviews collected using convenience sampling allowing and reinforcing me to conduct my study.over 6 weeks, 48 surveys and 2 interviews collected using convenience samplingtit ti d t d i ti t d i ki h bit f B t d if th h d ft i i

g g y y•quantitative data used investigate drinking habits of Batswana and if they changed after imposingquantitative data used investigate drinking habits of Batswana and if they changed after imposing t l h li b d d i ki h f th li ttax on alcoholic beverages and decreasing working hours of the liquor stores.

References:g g g q

S i t d f 20 ti th t dd d d i ki h bit d th ti i t’ ti References:•Survey consisted of 20 questions that addressed drinking habits and the participant’s perception G ll t (2007) Th d d f l h l A t l i f l ti iti Th A t li J l f A i lt l d R E i 51 121

y q g p p p pregarding the Alcohol Levy effectiveness in Botswana Gallet (2007). The demand for alcohol: A meta-analysis of elasticities. The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 51: 121–regarding the Alcohol Levy effectiveness in Botswana

35.g g y

•Semi structured interviews conducted with bar owners and bartenders Helakorpi Mäkelä & Uutela (2010). Alcohol consumption before and after a significant reduction of alcohol prices in 2004 in Finland: were the•Semi-structured interviews conducted with bar owners and bartenders Helakorpi Mäkelä & Uutela (2010). Alcohol consumption before and after a significant reduction of alcohol prices in 2004 in Finland: were the effects different across population subgroups Alcohol Alcohol ;45:286-92•Participants were approached various UB locations such as cafeteria library and student center effects different across population subgroups. Alcohol Alcohol ;45:286-92.Hibell (2004) The ESPAD report 2003 alcohol and other dr g se among st dents in 35 E ropean co ntries The S edish Co ncil for

•Participants were approached various UB locations, such as cafeteria, library and student center.Hibell (2004). The ESPAD report 2003: alcohol and other drug use among students in 35 European countries. The Swedish Council for •There were no risks for the partcipants in the study; they were required to read and sign inform Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs.•There were no risks for the partcipants in the study; they were required to read and sign inform Wagenaar &Toomey (2010). Alcohol policy: gaps between legislative action and current research..Contemporary Drug Problems 27:681–733.consent that reinforced them to withdraw from the study if they felt threatened age aa & oo ey ( 0 0) co o po cy gaps bet ee eg s at e act o a d cu e t esea c Co te po a y ug ob e s 68 33

World Health Organization (WHO) (2004) Global Status Report 2004 Geneva : alphabetical or numerical orderconsent that reinforced them to withdraw from the study if they felt threatened

World Health Organization (WHO) (2004). Global Status Report 2004. Geneva.: alphabetical or numerical order.