Overlap in attitudes to policy measures on alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs

• The pattern of overlap indicated no general attitude across different alcohol, tobacco, and illegal policy measures.
• Attitudes overlapped considerably for similar policy measures across substances.
• Attitudes overlapped weakly for different policy measures targeting the same substance.

BackgroundEffective alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug policies reduce the harm to users and third parties. Knowledge about determinants and interrelations between attitudes held by the general public to different types of policy measures can benefit policy-makers who aim to increase acceptance for effective policy. The present study describes the level of support for various policy measures held by the general public, and investigates the association between attitudes to policy measures on alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug.MethodsA sample of the Norwegian general population aged 16–64 (N = 1803) was interviewed by telephone. Respondents reported demographic information, personal substance use and attitudes to various policy measures. Associations between attitudes were assessed with correlation and regression analysis.ResultsAssociations between attitudes were strongest for similar policy measures across substance groups (e.g. tax increases on alcohol and tobacco). There was a weaker association between attitudes to different policy measures aimed at the same substance (e.g. tax increase on alcohol and campaigns on alcohol).ConclusionThe degree to which people approve or disapprove of the use of particular types of policy measures is irrespective of the targeted substance.