The impact of an alcohol policy change on developmental trajectories of youth alcohol use: examination of a natural experiment in Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

In 2015, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) authorized sale of alcohol in some Ontario grocery stores. This research evaluates the impact of the new policy on alcohol use patterns of youth in a quasi-experimental setting with two control groups.

Methods

The sample consists of 2267 grade 9 students attending 60 secondary schools across Ontario (n = 56) and Alberta (n = 4), who provided 4-year linked longitudinal data (2013-2014 to 2016-2017) in the COMPASS study. The study used the frequency of drinking and the frequency of binge drinking to characterize alcohol use behaviours.

Results

Latent transition analysis found four statuses of alcohol use: abstainer, periodic drinker, low-risk drinker, and high-risk regular drinker. The new policy had no nega

SUBMITTER: Gohari MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7910382 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature