International Health Policy Program -Thailand (Draft) Proposal Thai youth is at risk: affordability and availability of alcoholic beverages Weranuch Wongwatanakul Center for Alcohol Studies, Thailand International Health Policy Program Special Journal Club 26 Oct 2010

International Health Policy Program -Thailand Background This project proposal is a research project funded by Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS), International Health Policy Program (IHPP) Co-author with Assoc. Prof. Churai Tupvong 2

International Health Policy Program -Thailand Rationale Recent evidence indicated that the average age having the first drink of Thai youth tend to be younger. This trend leads to the increasing numbers of new drinkers and underage drinkers. The sooner the youth drink, the greater individual health effects they will get in the long run. It may lead to the greater burden of disease and the lower quality of human resource at the aggregate level over time. It is questionable whether affordability or availability of alcoholic beverages effects Thai youth drinking, or both. 3

International Health Policy Program -Thailand Objective To investigate factors, both pro and con, associate with Thai youths’ decision to have their first drink To examine whether affordability, availability, or other factors effect Thai youths who likely to have their first drink To determine the magnitude of associations between affordability and youths’ decision to have their first drink Expected output To provide policy recommendation that can prolong Thai youths not to start drinking 4

International Health Policy Program -Thailand Methodology Framework – To focus on youth who likely to start drinking (13-14 yrs) – To classify selected youth broadly by their drinking status – Then, to examine factors associate with their drinking behavior Quantitative analysis – to identify the magnitude of factors associate with youth’s decision to continue drinking to quit drinking to start drinking not to drink Qualitative analysis – To investigate factors associate with youth drinking behaviour for youth who likely to start drinking or having their first drink – To examine youths’ opinions toward alcohol price, the increase of alcohol price, and their affordability Study duration 8 months 5

International Health Policy Program -Thailand 6 15 – 19 yrs 13 – 14 yrs 11 – 12 yrs Thai Youth 13 – 14 yrs Had their first drink Never drink Decide to quit drinking Continue to drink Would like to drink Won’t drink anyway Purposive sampling N = 1,200 (for quantitative analysis) at Pathumthani Y1Y3Y2Y4 This study will provide an evidence indicating the factors associate with sample of youths’ decision to or not to drink. It do not represent associations at population level

International Health Policy Program -Thailand 7 Decide to quit drinking Continue to drink Would like to drink Won’t drink anyway Y1Y3 Y2Y4 Peer pressure Social Availability Affordability Physical Availability Exposure to Alcohol advertising Attitude Socio-economic status

International Health Policy Program -Thailand Quantitative analysis 8 DATASelf-reported questionnatire surevey n = 1,200 MEASURESDependent variables Y1 = had the first drink, and continue to drink Y2 = had the first drink, but decide to quit drinking Y3 = never drink, but would like to drink Y4 = never drink, and won't drink anyway Independent variables Affordability : whether they can or can't afford to buy alcohol Physical availability : whether they can buy alcohol by themselves Social availability : whether somebody provides them alcohol Peer pressure : whether persons close to them drink or invite them to drink Expose to Advertisement : whether they expose or recall to brand Attitude : their attitude toward drinking Socio-economic status : whether they wealthy enough to buy alcohol or be provided by their family members ANALYSISRegression

International Health Policy Program -Thailand Qualitative analysis 9 DATAFocus group interview (students, teachers, parents) total n = 150 In-depth Interview (students, teachers, parents, polices) total n = 50 MEASURESDrinking status, drinking frequency, reasons for drinking Accessibility of alcohol, social supply, drinking place Financial source to buy alcohol, amount to spend per drinking occasion Opinions toward alcohol price, whether it is cheap or expensive Opinions toward the increase of alcohol price, whether they still can afford For drinker, do they plan to continue or quit drinking? Why? ANALYSISDescriptive analysis Content analysis

International Health Policy Program -Thailand Discussion Thank You 10