Alcohol policies are important in preventing socio-economic health differences

Alcohol consumption is an important entry point for policies and interventions to reduce socio-economic inequalities in health. This is because the level of alcohol consumption varies between different socio-economic groups. In some European countries, socio-economic differences in alcohol-related mortality have a great contribution to socio-economic differences in total mortality, while in other European countries the impact is less pronounced. Possibly drinking pattern differences within populations are partly responsible for these socio-economic differences (Eurothine, 2007). Regarding specific alcohol policies: price policies seem to have a greater impact on the lower socio-economic classes than on other classes. For more information on the socio-economic differences in alcohol consumption see Alcohol use >> Causes and risk factors and the EUphocus Health inequalities.