Citation

Nakkash RT, Ghandour LA, Yassin N, Anouti S, Chalak A, Chehab S, El-Aily A, Afifi RA. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019; 16(16): e16162874.

Affiliation

Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, IA 52242, USA. rima-afifi@uiowa.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph16162874

PMID

31408935

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is a major risk factor in premature death and disability, especially among youth. Evidence-based policies to prevent and control the detrimental effect of alcohol use have been recommended. In countries with weak alcohol control policies-such as Lebanon, stakeholder analysis provides critical information to influence policy interventions. This paper assesses the views of stakeholders regarding a national alcohol harm reduction policy for youth.

METHODS: We interviewed a total of 22 key stakeholders over a period of 8 months in 2015. Stakeholders were selected purposively, to include representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations and industry that could answer questions related to core intervention areas: affordability, availability, regulation of marketing, and drinking and driving. We analyzed interview transcripts using thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Three themes emerged: Inadequacy of current alcohol control policies; weak governance and disregard for rule of law as a determinant of the status quo; and diverting of responsibility towards 'other' stakeholders. In addition, industry representatives argued against evidence-based policies using time-worn strategies identified globally.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that alcohol harm reduction policies are far from becoming a policy priority in Lebanon. There is a clear need to shift the narrative from victim blaming to structural conditions.

Language: en

Keywords

Arab; Lebanon; alcohol; alcohol advertising; alcohol control policy; alcohol industry; drinking and driving; youth