Introduction The underage drinking problem is becoming a cause for concern in Hong Kong as young people are exposed to an environment with easy access to alcohol. In particular, the off-premise sales of alcohol to underage youth are entirely subject to the industry voluntary code of conduct. Without appropriate legislative changes and enforcement measures, underage youth in Hong Kong could find it relatively easy to obtain the alcoholic beverage in off-premise outlets. Different studies were published to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for reducing the sale of alcohol to underage youth in off-premise outlets. Aim and Objectives 1. To identify the effectiveness of interventions on restricting off-premise alcohol sales to underage youth 2. To suggest policy and intervention measures to regulate the off-premise alcohol sales to adolescents in Hong Kong based on the findings presented in this review. Methods Literature in this review included articles published in the last 10 years (2003-2013). The literature search was undertaken in the following two pronged method. 1. To identify relevant articles, the following databases were used: PubMed and MEDLINE. The search term: "Alcohol Drinking/legislation and jurisprudence"[MeSH Terms] AND ("2003/01/01"[PDAT]: "2013/12/31"[PDAT]) AND ("adolescent"[MeSH Terms]) were applied. 2. Manual search was conducted according to the bibliographies and reference lists of the articles that were being reviewed. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Results Numerous articles have been identified regarding interventions to reduce underage access to alcohol in off-premises and shift retailers' behavior in the sale. Such interventions included, but were not limited to responsible beverage sales and service training, intensified compliance check, enhancement of non-compliance penalties, reward and reminder visit and media advocacy. Community based interventions targeting off-premises sale were found to be successful in affecting the behaviour of the retail staff. There was a variation in the magnitude of effects among the studies and this was associated with the intensity of the interventions and the publicity. A decaying effect of interventions was also observed. Conclusion This review identified that implementing a legal purchasing age combined with intensification of compliance check and enhancement of penalties were effective in reducing sales of alcohol to underage youth in off-premise venues. On the basis of the findings, policy suggestions for Hong Kong were presented. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

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Alcohol consumption, the third largest contributing risk factor towards global morbidity, has increased in the past 5 years despite global calls for action to reduce its significant impact on public health. Compared to most developed nations, Hong Kong has been shown to have lower levels of alcohol consumption by previously conducted research. However, Hong Kong’s low alcohol taxes, wide availability of alcohol, and lax restrictions on marketing practices have the potential to increase the prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking particularly among young adults 18-25 of age, lending them towards increased risks of neurological damage, unsafe sex, intentional and unintentional injuries, and impacts on school and work performance in addition to chronic health harms in the future. This thesis employs a mixed-methods approach to comprehensively examine the behavioral and environmental contexts of Chinese young adult drinking behavior, as well as to generate feasible, effective strategies at the health promotion and policy levels to reduce alcohol-related harm among this population subgroup. / Cantonese-speaking young adults of Hong Kong (n=684) were invited between April and September 2011 to participate in a cross-sectional random telephone survey, during which they were asked about their drinking patterns and perceptions on a set of alcohol expectancy statements. Twelve focus groups (n=63) were then conducted between June 2012 – May 2013 to explore individual motivations to drink as well as possible environmental and social facilitating factors. A series of interviews conducted in January – April 2014 with key policy stakeholders, including representatives of law enforcement, education, government, food and beverage sectors, non-governmental organizations, and the alcohol industry, (n=16) then aimed to produce appropriate, actionable policies and interventions which can be undertaken as a means to reduce alcohol-related harm among young adults in Hong Kong. / At the behavioural level, positive outcome expectancies were found to be significantly associated with various levels of alcohol use. Those who held social facilitation of drinking to a high regard were significantly more likely (OR=6.67; 95% CI: 2.87,15.49) to have had at least one binge drinking episode in the past month. Qualitative investigations also illustrated drinking among Hong Kong young adults as heavily focused on planned socializing and self-presentation in personal and business situations, and further enabled by the availability of local drinking games and granting and losing face, a Chinese cultural concept based on dignity with competitive undertones. Drinking occasions were also facilitated by the convenience of bars and lounges, viewed as accommodating alternatives to homes for social gatherings. Point-of sale promotions providing inexpensive or free drinks further strengthened alcohol use as a convenient and normal practice among young adults. / Instead of adopting strategies to limit access to alcohol as recommended by global alcohol experts, key policy stakeholders of alcohol issues in Hong Kong expressed preference for softer approaches such as health education campaigns to properly inform young adults about the physical harms of alcohol. For legislative actions, only those that aim to limit alcohol’s physical availability, restrictions on discounted drink specials, and bans on event-centric promotions were favored as viable options. / This series of studies marks the first attempt in alcohol research to comprehensively establish a profile of drinking behavior of Chinese young adults at individual, social, and environmental levels. Based on these findings, a deeper understanding of the previously unexplored cultural context of Chinese drinking, particularly those involving face-based interactions and business situations, is warranted in future behavioral research on alcohol use among this ethnic subgroup. Health campaigns and community interventions challenging the perceives social benefits of drinking among young adults may be useful at the community level in reducing alcohol-relates harms among Chinese youth, but further research is required to ascertain their actual effectiveness in Hong Kong. The government-endorsed Liquor Licensing Board may also expand its current role in limiting the physical availability of alcohol in Hong Kong by imposing a licensing system on outlets that sell alcohol for consumption outside of their premises (off-premise sales), and restricting point-of-sale promotions of alcoholic beverages at licensed venues. / 飲酒為全球發病率的第三大危險因素。儘管酒精危害對公共衛生的影響何其嚴重，世界在過去五年飲酒量始終持續上升的趨勢。傳統來說，香港飲酒的份量與大多數發達國家相對較低。然而，香港針對酒類飲品的價格、供應、和營銷的限制極為寬鬆，這種情況有機會增加18-25歲青少年飲酒和暴飲的流行性，神經損傷、不安全性行為、和蓄意及非蓄意的傷害的風險亦有機會因此增加，在學校和工作表現也會受到影響。有見及此，本論文內描述的研究旨在採取混合研究方式，分析青少年飲酒行為的個人和環境因素，導出在健康促進和政策層面內可行、有效的措施，從而減少香港青少年酒精相關危害。 / 本研究首先採用電話問卷方式於2011年四月至九月之間對本地青少年作一項橫斷式調查(n=684)，主要調查他們的酒精使用頻率以及對使用效果的期望。此外亦於2012年六月至2013年九月之間經十二組的焦點團體訪談(n=63)探討青少年使用酒精飲品的個人動機，以及任何社會或環境層面的促進因素和影響。最後是項研究於2014年一月至四月之間進行一系列的採訪(n=16)，了解相應持份者對在香港實施減少青少年酒精相關危害的社區或政策行動的可行性與預期影響。。 / 在行為層面上，飲酒正向使用效果的期望與各級酒精頻率顯著相關。對酒精在社交帶來的正面效果抱著頗高期望的人士更有較大機會於一個月內有暴飲的情況(OR = 6.67; 95% CI: 2.87,15.49)。質性調查亦顯示，香港青少年飲酒行為很大程度上圍繞於酒精在社交場面上的表現和自我映照所需的正面影響，並透過本地式飲酒遊戲和面子的基礎上進一步引生出競爭式暴飲行為。飲酒場合（例如酒吧及類似的休憩場所）的方便及舒適程度，更令他們取代住所成為社交聯歡的主要地點。酒精飲品的特惠和特別促銷活動亦經常提供廉價或免費的飲料，進一步加強了酒精使用於青少年群組當中成為一種方便及正常行為。 / 相對於國際酒精使用研究專家提出的適當策略來限制人們和酒精的接觸，相應持份者傾向採取較柔和的應對方法，例如健康教育活動以正確地告知青少年酒精對身體的危害。使用法律手法當中，只有管制酒精供應和禁止特惠及特別促銷活動是被看好為本地可行的選擇。 / 這一系列的研究代表了學術界中首次在個人、社會、和環境層面上探究中國的年輕人飲酒行為。根據是項研究的結果，未來中國人飲酒行為的研究可針對未曾探索的文化背景作更深層的了解，特別是涉及面子和為工作而需應酬的飲酒場合。針對青年人認為飲酒的社交效果的健康及社區教育計劃也可能是有效的干預方向，但仍需作進一步研究以確定在香港的有效性。政府認可的酒牌局也能擴大現有的管制系統來限制零售店舖的酒精供應，以及任何售酒處所的銷售方式。本論文亦基於研究結果對未來行為的研究、健康促進的實踐、和政策發展的影響作進一步的討論。 / Wong, Ho Cheuk Alvin. / Thesis Ph.D. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 194-230). / Abstracts and appendixes also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 18, October, 2016). / Wong, Ho Cheuk Alvin. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

A research study submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Strategic Marketing (MMSM) Wits Business School May 2017 / The research investigated the impact of three socialisation agents (i.e. advertising, parents and peers) and personal attitudes on alcohol consumption among South Africa youth. There is a growing concern of the high and year-on-year increase in alcohol consumption in the country which has not only been linked to social ills such as crime, violence, sexual abuse, but also to health concerns. Of greater concern is the ever growing penetration of alcohol consumption among young people. The South African government has pledged its support to the World Health Organisation to reduce the harmful use of alcohol; and appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to develop programs that seek to reduce alcohol-related harm. The findings generated from this study provide insights into social influences and social interventions that might assist in reducing the harmful use of alcohol. The research employed a quantitative approach and was cross-sectional in design. Non-random quota sampling was employed and a total of 300 youths from Gauteng were issued with self-administered questionnaires. The young people were at different life stages; students, blue and white collar workers. Using SPSS 22 and AMOS 22 software programs, structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed to analyse the data set. The results revealed that personal attitude, peer influence, and advertising exposure have positive and significant influences on youth alcohol consumption. Parental influence had a positive, yet weak and unimportant, effect on youth alcohol consumption. The implication of the results in this study is that government, alcohol manufacturers and the community at large need to consider, and possibly prioritise, other harmful uses of alcohol interventions and address personal attitudes that young people have developed to reduce the effects of peer pressure. / MT2017

Thesis ( M.A. (Media Studies)) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / This study investigates the effects of televised alcohol advertisements on the drinking behaviour of youth in Praktiseer community of the Greater Tubatse Municipality. The nature and trends of alcohol consumption in South Africa are examined. The study also focuses on the impact of alcohol exposure, and the costs alcohol abuse can incur on the individual and society at large. The types of advertising models and the regulatory systems in advertising were identified. Data were collected through a self- administered questionnaire. The study hypothesised that the exposure to alcohol advertisements influences alcohol abuse among the youth. However, alcohol industry claims that the youth is not its niche market and hence should not be blamed for any abusive behaviour of alcohol by the youth. Just like the few studies interested in the effects of alcohol advertising, alcohol exposure and alcohol abuse, the present study also reveals that televised alcohol advertisements have a great influence in alcohol consumption among the youth in Praktiseer community.

M. Tech. Marketing / The primary objective of this study was to investigate the role that advertising plays in alcoholic beverage consumption patterns of the youth of Tshwane. Several secondary research objectives were set which include: examining the overall alcoholic beverage consumption of young people, the alcoholic beverage types and brands consumed, exposure to alcoholic beverage brand advertising, exposure to media in which alcoholic beverages are advertised, differences between males and females with regards to their consumption of alcoholic beverages as well as the alcoholic beverage types they consume, the relationship between age and alcoholic beverage consumption, income and alcoholic beverage consumption and other factors that can influence young people to consume alcoholic beverages.

Social norms play a pivotal role in both explaining the development and maintenance of collegiate alcohol use and creating prevention and intervention programs targeted at reducing heavy drinking. By theoretically functioning as a model of normative and popular behavior, descriptive and injunctive norms are consistently associated with college drinking. In the current study, we endeavored to test the mechanisms through which social norms influence drinking by experimentally manipulating normative beliefs. Participants (N = 181) were assigned to one of nine conditions in a 3 (descriptive norms (DN): positive, negative, none) x 3 (injunctive norms (IN): positive, negative, none) experimental design. Norms exposure occurred within a series of three same-gender Internet-based chat room sessions. The norms manipulation was partially successful in creating groups with distinct normative beliefs, with the no norms groups failing to maintain a neutral norm for both descriptive and injunctive norms. Consequently, no descriptive norms groups were combined with positive descriptive norms groups and no injunctive norms groups were combined with negative injunctive norms groups, resulting in a 2 (DN: positive, negative) x 2 (IN: positive, negative) design for analyses. Overall findings for type (DN, IN) and valence (positive, negative) of norms indicated that participants globally reduced descriptive norms and drinking from pre-chat room to post-chat room, regardless of the type or valence of the manipulation, indicating that there were no experimental effects by condition. Whereas drinking appeared to stabilize at post-chat room, descriptive norms continued to decrease by three-month follow-up. Injunctive norms and personal attitudes about alcohol use also decreased by three-month follow-up. Although we were unsuccessful in changing normative beliefs in expected directions, these findings have important implications for college prevention and intervention programs for reducing drinking. The lack of experimental effects suggested that changing norms may be more complex than previously hypothesized and that changes in norms may not result in changes in drinking, which is the purported mechanism of change in norms-based interventions. These results further suggested that continued research is necessary to provide empirical support for a causal link between norms and drinking and that alternative explanations for the association between norms and drinking need to be considered. / text

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Alcohol use among adolescents has been the subject of considerable research. A burgeoning literature exists identifying correlates and factors in teenage drinking. However, little is known about the adolescent abstaining from alcohol. The target of this study was this cohort of abstaining adolescents. The reasons for not drinking and the pressures to drink perceived among a sample of middle adolescent (grade 9) non-drinkers was investigated. The study was a survey administered in three parts. First, an alcohol-use survey was administered to all participating grade 9 students in two school districts. A second questionnaire was administered to 72 subjects reporting non-use of alcohol on the initial survey. Thirty of these subjects were then interviewed. Negative attitudes toward alcohol and drinking, a concern about alcohol's effects on health, and a dislike for the taste of alcoholic beverages were among the strongest reasons for not drinking given by the sample. The subjects' own attitudes about alcohol appear to be more important factors in their decisions to abstain than the direct influence of peers, parents or others. As in previous studies, religiosity was a strongly reported factor in the abstinence of a number (25%) of the subjects. It appears that at least for this sample of non-drinking adolescents, the perceived pressure to drink from peers, adults, the media or society generally is very limited. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

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