Affiliation:
1. Department of Health Policy and Management City University of New York's Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy New York USA
2. Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Atlanta USA
3. Departments of Health Policy and Management and Community Health and Social Sciences City University of New York's Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy New York USA
4. Alcohol policy consultant Chapel Hill USA
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionThe onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic accelerated rates of alcohol purchasing and related harms in the USA. The increases followed governors' emergency orders that increased alcohol availability, including the allowance of alcohol home delivery, alcohol to‐go from restaurants and bars, and curbside pickup from retailers.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 53 participants involved in state‐level alcohol prevention policy across 48 states. Interviewees' perspectives on changes to alcohol prevention policies during the COVID‐19 pandemic, including capacity to respond to alcohol‐focused executive and legislative changes to alcohol availability, were explored. Initial codes were developed collectively and refined through successive readings of transcripts using a phenomenological, action‐oriented research approach. Themes were identified semantically after all transcripts were coded and reviewed.ResultsFour themes were developed including: (i) alcohol prevention policies and capacity during COVID‐19; (ii) industry‐related challenges during COVID‐19; (iii) limited pre‐COVID‐19 alcohol prevention capacity; and (iv) needs to strengthen alcohol prevention capacity.Discussion and ConclusionsThe pandemic exacerbated states' capacity limitations for alcohol prevention efforts and created additional impediments to public health messaging about alcohol health risks related to greater alcohol availability. Participants offered a myriad of strategies to improve alcohol prevention and to reduce alcohol‐related harms. Recommendations included dedicated federal and state prioritisation, more funding for community organisations, greater coordination, consistent high‐quality trainings, stronger surveillance and widespread prevention messaging. States' alcohol prevention efforts require dedicated leadership, additional funding and support to strengthen population‐based strategies to reduce sustained alcohol‐related harms associated with increases in alcohol availability.
Subject
Health (social science),Medicine (miscellaneous)
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