The opportunity costs of alcohol consumption: Evidence from Vietnam Good afternoon I would like to share with you some result of our research of the opportunity cost of alchol consumption in Vietnam. This evidence is important for advocacting Pham Thi Hoang Anh HealthBridge Canada, Vietnam Office EPP47-14 Track 1 - Stemming the tide: innovations in prevention and screening 1 EPP47-14 Abstract presented before: N

RATIONALS Alcohol consumption has been increased rapidly in Vietnam, especially in young generation. Alcohol consumption worsen the poverty among the poor by increasing the expenditure for treatment of alcohol related diseases/injuries; The expenditure on alcohol will diverge limited household budget that would be used for basic needs. The poverty is a sensitive political issue in Vietnam but we lack the evidences on the link of poverty and alcohol consumption. Lack of comprehensive law; Existing policies are weak and poorly enforced  need evidences to advocate for the need of alcohol control law. Alcohol consumption has been increased rapidly in Vietnam in recent years especially in young generation. Internationally there are evidences that alcohol consumption worsen the poverty among the poor by increasing the expenditure for treatment of alcohol related diseases/injuries; The expenditure on alcohol will diverge limited disposible household budget that would be used for basic needs. The poverty is a sensitive political issue in Vietnam but we lack the local evidences on the link of poverty and alcohol consumption. These evidences are needed to advocate for the need of alcohol control law wich currently is absent in Vietnam Figure 1: Proportion of alcohol use (aged 25-64) in Vietnam (%) Figure 2: Pure alcohol consumption per capita in adults (15+) (liters) VN MOH, STEPS 2015 WHO, 2014

OBJECTIVES METHODOLOGY Defining the alcohol expenditure of “drinking” households Comparing the expenditure on alcohol with expenditure on other basic needs: foods, health, education… Estimate opportunity cost of alcohol consumption Investigating the socio-demographic characteristics of drinking households Research objectives are: Defining the alcohol expenditure of “drinking” households Comparing the expenditure on alcohol with expenditure on other basic needs: foods, health, education… Estimate opportunity cost of alcohol consumption Investigating the socio-demographic characteristics of drinking households To do this we conducted a cross sectional Cross sectional analysis using data of Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey 2010 with a nationwide representative sample of 9400 households “alcohol drinking households” is defined as those who listed alcohol as an item among daily consumed items METHODOLOGY Cross sectional analysis using data of Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey 2010. Sample size: 9400 households

Thanks for your attention! KEY FINDINGS 57.7% of Vietnamese households “regularly” consume alcohol. The households that headed by a man; that have more numbers of men. Average “drinking” houshold’s expenditure on alcohol is 733.058 VND/year (appr 37.6 USD) Total expenditure on alcohol of Vietnamese in 2010 is 16,372 billion VND (appr 982,369 USD) that would be used to buy 1,770.000 tone rice to feed 21 million people/year The members of “drinking” households are likely less invested for education, nutrition and health care than the members of “non-drinking” ones, across all income groups but most visible among the low income group. The expenditure on education and health care of drinking households of this groups is only 48% và 60% compared to non-drinking household of the same income groups. The drinkers of drinking households consume at least 2 cups of beer each five days, while the children of these households have les than one cup of milk per year. If money used to alcohol would used to buy the milk, the children of these families would have a cup of milk each three days If excluding alcohol expenditure from household expenditure then the number of poor households would increased by 90568 households We found that: 57.7% of Vietnamese households “regularly” consume alcohol. The households that headed by a man; that have more numbers of men tend to are more likely to consume regularly Average “drinking” household’s expenditure on alcohol is 733.058 VND/year. Total expenditure on alcohol of Vietnamese in 2010 is 16.372 billion VND that would be able to be used to buy 1.770.000 tone rice to feed 21 million people/year The members of “drinking” households are likely less invested for education, nutrition and health care than the members of “non-drinking” ones, across all income groups but most visible among the low income group. The drinkers of drinking households consume at least 2 cups of beer each five days, while the children of these households have les than one cup of milk per year. If money used to alcohol would used to buy the milk, the children would have more chance to drink the milk If excluding alcohol expenditure from household expenditure then the number of poor households would increased by 90,568 households Thanks for your attention!