Background: Drinking alcoholic beverages together is a powerful symbol and instrument of conviviality. But alcohol consumption also risks subsequent injury or harm. Deciding to drink in social situations thus involves balancing convivial gains against potential risks. This paper studies the balancing of conviviality with caution by Australian adults in their views on situational norms on drinking. Methods: In 2021, 2,574 Australian adults were asked whether and how much drinking was "OK" in eleven social situations of everyday life, mostly involving conviviality, but varying in how much the situation or its aftermath implied drinking limits. The structure of responses was factor analysed, and regression analyses studied how answers on drinking norms related to respondents' own drinking, demographics and social position. Results: An exploratory factor analysis found three factors: (a) five situations where conviviality was primary; (b) four situations where there were clear reasons for limiting the drinking; and (c) a weaker factor dominated by situations without conviviality or which transitioned to sobriety. Responses on situations emphasising conviviality thus tended to cluster, as did responses on situations involving both conviviality and caution. Respondents who on occasion drink heavily generally reported higher drinking norms for all situations. Those with a higher household income, who were younger than 35, who were not living with a partner, and who were current drinkers, were more likely to support drinking in the first factor's "conviviality" situations. Women were less likely to support drinking in "with caution" situations, while those with higher household incomes and who were self-employed were more likely to support drinking in those situations. Conclusion: Australian drinking norms differ by situation, with caution limiting convivial drinking when required by the situation or its aftermath. Differences in normative views vary somewhat by whether and how much a respondent drinks.

Introduction Alcohol pricing policies are recognised as effective strategies for reducing consumption and alcohol-related harms, with their strongest impact concentrated across the lowest-priced products. Across many retail markets, low-cost alcohol is increasingly supplied through retailer-owned (private-label) brands, yet there is little research on how ownership structure relates to pricing at the product level. Methods Product-level pricing data for cask wine sold by major Australian online alcohol retailers over a month were collected through a commercial web-scraping partnership. Products were classified as retailer-owned or independently owned using trademark records and publicly available ownership information. Prices were standardised to price per standard drink, and analyses were run to compare pricing across ownership types. Results Retailer-owned products accounted for 42% of all cask wine products listed across major retailers and were consistently and significantly cheaper per standard drink than independently owned products. Conclusion The lowest-priced cask wine products sold by major retailers were predominately retailer-owned. These findings suggest that pricing-based alcohol policies targeting cheap alcohol in Australia would likely have a larger impact on retailer-owned private-label products rather than independent brands.

Spousal relationships are a key context for alcohol use and psychological well-being. Alcohol consumption may influence mental health through its impact on relationship dynamics. This study examined whether relationship satisfaction mediates the association between alcohol use and anxiety and whether this pathway is moderated by spousal drinking congruence. Participants were spouses from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey between 2005 and 2021. Multilevel structural equation models regressed individual and spouse alcohol consumption frequency and quantity on relationship satisfaction 1-year later, and all variables on anxiety another year later, up to eight times per participant. Moderation was assessed with individual and spouse alcohol consumption pattern interactions. Based on age-based differences in previous research, models were estimated separately for 18-50 (n = 6,483) and 51+ (n = 5,110) year olds. For 18- to 50-year-olds, relationship satisfaction partially mediated the association between individual alcohol quantity and anxiety, with effects dependent on spouse quantity (greater anxiety at low spouse quantity; lower anxiety at high spouse quantity). For those aged 51+, relationship satisfaction fully mediated the association between spouse quantity and anxiety, and partially mediated associations involving individual quantity and frequency, with frequency effects moderated by spouse frequency (greater anxiety at low spouse frequency; lower anxiety at high spouse frequency). Spousal incongruence in alcohol consumption patterns and heavier drinking among older spouses were associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. Better outcomes were observed where spouses showed congruent heavy and frequent drinking among younger and older couples, respectively. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Originally developed for clinical screening for hazardous alcohol use, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C) is also widely used in epidemiological research and monitoring. However, its cutoff values may not suit all purposes, and evidence on its predictive validity is limited. We examined how AUDIT-C scores relate to subsequent register-based alcohol-attributable events across age and sex and identified optimal thresholds for predicting these outcomes. DESIGN:Five general population surveys conducted in 2011-2017, linked to nationwide registers with follow-up until the end of 2023 (total follow-up 879 964 person-years). SETTING:Nationwide, Finland. PARTICIPANTS:Adults aged ≥20 years (n = 103 567). MEASUREMENTS:AUDIT-C to assess exposure. OUTCOME:incident alcohol-attributable events in any of the registers capturing care, deaths and prescription medicines (n = 1444). FINDINGS:The hazard of register-based alcohol-attributable events increased approximately exponentially with increasing AUDIT-C score. It rose more strongly among women than men [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.55-1.67 for women; HR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.40-1.49 for men; P < 0.001 for the sex × AUDIT-C interaction]. The risk of alcohol-attributable events was statistically significantly raised at 2 points among women and 3 points among men with 1 point as a reference level. The suggested optimal cutoff values were 2 points for women aged ≥80, 3 points for women aged 65-79 and men aged ≥80, 5 points for women aged 20-64 and men aged 65-79 and 6 points for men aged 20-64. CONCLUSIONS:Using Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C) scores, optimal cutoff values for predicting alcohol-attributable harm may differ by age and sex, with lower cutoffs for older individuals and women. The ≥65 age group appears to be heterogeneous with regard to vulnerability to alcohol-attributable harm, which should be considered when establishing cutoffs or guidelines for alcohol use.

PURPOSE:Youth drinking in Australia and other high-income countries has declined markedly since the early 2000s, which means the profile of adolescent drinkers may have changed. This study examines the sociodemographic characteristics of underage adolescents who engage in heavy drinking practices in Australia and investigates whether these characteristics have shifted over time. METHODS:Data were analyzed from Australians aged 14-17 years who completed the National Drug Strategy Household Survey between 2001 and 2022 (N = 7,618). Logistic regression analyses examined whether sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, geographic location, socioeconomic status, cultural background, student status) were associated with heavy alcohol use (single occasion risky drinking [5+ drinking] and heavy episodic drinking [11+ drinking]) over time. Interaction terms (sociodemographic characteristics × survey wave) assessed changes in these relationships since 2001. RESULTS:All sociodemographic subgroups decreased their drinking between 2001 and 2022, with the magnitude of the decline generally larger among subgroups who consumed alcohol more heavily in 2001. Older age, living in regional areas, higher socioeconomic status, being born in Australia, and not being a student were associated with 5+ drinking independent of time, though these relationships narrowed over time. Broadly similar results were found for 11+ drinking. DISCUSSION:The profile of underage adolescents who drink heavily has shifted as youth drinking has declined. Subgroups with higher baseline rates of heavy drinking have reduced their drinking more, and in some cases, converged with subgroups that did not drink as heavily, meaning sociodemographic characteristics are now less of an indicator of heavy drinking among Australian adolescents.

Background People living in disadvantaged areas experience disproportionately more harms from alcohol compared to those in advantaged areas, despite equivalent or less alcohol consumption. This is known as the ‘alcohol harm paradox’. This study explores how people who drink alcohol from areas of different socio-economic status (SES) describe and perceive the harms they experience from drinking to garner a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that underpin the alcohol harm paradox. Methods The study draws on 45 semi-structured interviews with people who consume alcohol in Victoria, Australia. Participants were recruited in 2023-2024 from neighbourhoods with different levels of SES. Drawing on the Social Ecological Model as an analytical lens, thematic and comparative analysis was used to explore how socio-economic conditions influenced alcohol-related harms among those from different SES areas. Results Concerns about physical, mental and work-related harms from alcohol were more common among those living in areas of higher SES, with broader life concerns more immediate for those in areas of lower SES. Participants from middle and higher SES areas often reported compensating drinking practices with healthy activities such as fitness, and moderating consumption before work days. Those from the lowest SES areas described feeling less autonomy over their consumption and reported fewer resources to address potential alcohol-related problems. Conclusion Our findings support calls for a social ecological model perspective and approaches that consider multiple contextual factors to better understand alcohol-related health inequity. Policies that most effectively tackle the alcohol harm paradox may be those that improve social conditions for the whole population, subsequently reducing alcohol-related inequity.

OBJECTIVE:Alcohol consumption patterns have been associated with long-term anxiety, but evidence on how these associations vary across population subgroups remains limited. This study examines longitudinal associations between alcohol consumption frequency and quantity and subsequent anxiety, and tests whether these relationships were moderated by sex, age, and income level. METHODS:Participants were from a nationally representative sample of Australian adults (N = 21,405) from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey between 2006 and 2021. Linear mixed-effects models predicted anxiety based on alcohol consumption one-year prior up to eight times per participant. Moderation by sex (male, female), age-group (18-25, 26-37, 38-50, 51 + years), and income quartile were examined. Anxiety was measured using the Kessler-10 anxiety subscale and alcohol consumption was measured using self-reported alcohol consumption frequency (alcohol consumption occasions per week) and alcohol consumption quantity (standard drinks consumed on alcohol consumption occasions). RESULTS:An adjusted model demonstrated a small effect of frequency (IRR[95 % CI] = 0.98[0.98, 0.99]) and quantity (IRR[95 % CI] = 1.02[1.01, 1.03]) on anxiety one-year later. Age, but not sex nor income, moderated the relationship between alcohol consumption and anxiety. Specifically, frequency was associated with slightly lower longitudinal anxiety for 51 + year-olds (β[95 % CI] = -0.04[-0.05, -0.03]), but showed no association for 18-50-year-olds. Conversely, quantity was associated with slightly greater longitudinal anxiety for 51 + year-olds (β[95 % CI] = 0.03[.02, 0.05]) and 26-50-year-olds (β[95 % CI] = 0.02[.01, 0.03]), but not 18-25-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS:While the impact of alcohol consumption on anxiety appears very small, divergent relationships of drinking frequency versus quantity on long-term anxiety seem to emerge across the lifespan. Drinking larger amounts per occasion appears associated with slight increases in anxiety from early adulthood, while drinking more frequently but in smaller amounts appears associated with slight decreases in anxiety in older adulthood.

INTRODUCTION:The price of alcohol is a key determinant of purchasing and consumption, yet few studies have assessed alcohol price in Australia. This study aimed to determine: (i) the comparative price of different alcohol product types; (ii) changes in price of alcoholic products over time inclusive of an excise duty indexation; and (iii) the proportion of alcoholic products under different price thresholds. METHODS:Data were collected monthly (July-October 2023) from five major off-premise alcohol retailer websites in three New South Wales locations with high alcohol-related mortality and morbidity (capital city, major city and remote location). Multilevel models estimated price differences and the proportion of products under three price thresholds, both by beverage type, subtype, location and over time. RESULTS:Wine in > 1 L vessels and high-strength cider were the cheapest products. The nominal price of alcohol for beer, spirits and premix increased in August-October compared with July 2023. Only wine fell under the $0.80 threshold, including 6% of all wine and 99.4% of wine in vessel size > 2 L. 14.3% of all wine and 14.6% of cider fell under A$1.30, and 26.4% of wine, 36.8% of cider, and 23.2% of beer fell under $1.80. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:Cheap alcohol products are predominantly those that attract ad valorem taxation. Beer, spirits and premixes increased in price likely due to indexation in August 2023, whereas wine and cider became comparatively cheaper over time. Ongoing monitoring of alcohol prices is needed to comprehensively evaluate market responses to alcohol pricing and other supply reduction policies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:A minimum unit price (MUP) of AUD$1.30 per standard drink was implemented in 2018 in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, to reduce the availability of cheap alcohol. Despite evidence of its efficacy in decreasing alcohol consumption and harms, the MUP was repealed on 1 March 2025. This study aimed to determine the immediate impacts of the MUP repeal on the price of off-premises (i.e. takeaway) alcohol in Darwin, NT, assessing the proportion of products available <$1.30 per standard drink after the repeal in March 2025, identifying whether these products were pre-existing or new to market, and analysing any broader shifts in the price distribution across all alcoholic products that could be attributable to the repeal. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS:Observational study of all alcoholic products available from three large alcohol retailer websites. SETTING:Darwin, NT, between October 2024 and March 2025. MEASUREMENTS:Price per standard drink was estimated, and fixed-effects panel quantile regression was used to test for price differences. FINDINGS:Within one month of the repeal, no beer or spirits, 5.1% of all wine and 2.5% of all ciders were available <$1.30 per standard drink, including 67.6% of the 37 wine products in vessels ≥1 L. Of the products identified at <$1.30 per standard drink, most had been available in previous months (i.e. not new or restocked). Quantile regression results showed a downward shift in price across the market for all product types, including beer and spirits, which were priced substantially above the $1.30 threshold at all percentiles. The largest reductions were observed for cheaper spirits, beer, cider and wine ≥1 L, ranging from $0.08 at the 20th percentile for spirits to $0.48 for wine ≥1 L at the 10th percentile. CONCLUSIONS:The minimum unit price repeal in Northern Territory, Australia, in March 2025 resulted in an immediate increase in the availability of cheap alcohol products and a downward shift in the overall price of alcohol in the off-premises market, particularly for lower-priced products.

INTRODUCTION:There have been mixed findings on how alcohol consumption changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. We triangulated six data sources to assess what happened to Australian alcohol consumption during the pandemic and examined how seasonal patterns in consumption related to potential lockdown effects. METHODS:Data were obtained from surveys, sales-based estimates and wastewater data, and analysed descriptively. The mean and proportion change in alcohol measures between 2020 and 2023 compared to 2019 were calculated. The monthly 2020-2023 off-premise sales were compared to pre-pandemic estimates. RESULTS:Consumption in 2020 remained relatively consistent with pre-pandemic levels (proportion change ranged from -5.3% to 5.6%). Compared to pre-pandemic levels (10.28 L in 2018/19), sales-based estimates decreased in 2019/20 (10.04 L) and increased in 2020/21 (10.85 L), before decreasing in 2021/22 and 2022/23 (10.74 and 10.46 L, respectively). Apart from the initial impact of the public health orders on off-premise purchasing, the restrictions did not appear to influence off-premise sales. Shifts in consumption in 2020 were substantially influenced by regular seasonal patterns of drinking. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:We found mixed results in how consumption changed during the pandemic, suggesting that survey and administrative data should be used in conjunction when examining consumption. Using survey data, there were no significant changes in consumption during the pandemic compared with 2019. However, seasonality effects were evident during 2020, which should be considered when assessing consumption during the pandemic. Meanwhile, off-premise sales and sales-based estimates were higher in 2020-2023 than pre-pandemic estimates-suggesting a shift in Australian off-premise purchasing patterns.

OBJECTIVE:Alcohol use and anxiety both contribute significantly to the global burden of disease, and understanding their longitudinal relationships may clarify whether they exacerbate each another. However, previous research on the topic has yielded mixed results, potentially due to a lack of differentiation between alcohol use patterns. This study aimed to explore the bidirectional longitudinal correlations between alcohol use frequency and quantity, and anxiety. METHODS:A longitudinal random-intercept cross-lagged panel model was constructed using data from 18+ year-old individuals (N = 14,665), collected in the 2017 and 2019 waves of the nationally representative Household, Income, and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. Anxiety was measured with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale anxiety subscale and participants' reported frequency and quantity of alcohol use. RESULTS:For individuals, anxiety was positively associated with subsequent alcohol use quantity, and alcohol use frequency and quantity were negatively and positively associated with subsequent anxiety, respectively. Cross-lagged effects were small in magnitude suggesting that alcohol use patterns and anxiety accounted for a small amount of change in each other. CONCLUSION:Results strengthen support for a reciprocal relationship between heavier alcohol use and anxiety and provide novel insight into a relationship between frequent, low quantity alcohol use, and subsequent lower anxiety. These results underscore the importance of differentiating between alcohol use patterns when evaluating mental health outcomes and emphasize that heavier drinking patterns are particularly detrimental to psychological well-being.

Introduction Cross sectional research has demonstrated that screening tool questions on frequency of alcohol consumption are a better predictor of dependence and harmful drinking in younger adults; questions about quantity per occasion are a better predictor in older adults. The aim of this study is to see if this relationship also holds longitudinally. Methods A total of 9076 respondents aged 15 and over completed at least two waves of the longitudinal annual Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey 10 years apart between 2001-2010 and 2012-2020. Standardised scores from responses to questions on drinking quantity and frequency in the first survey were used to predict consumption 10 years later in groups stratified by age. Results Frequency of consumption was a significantly better predictor of future consumption than quantity in younger drinkers (aged < 36; beta = 9.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.6-10.0), than older drinkers (aged > 49; beta = 5.1, 95% CI 4.8-5.5) while quantity was a better predictor in older drinkers (beta = 8.2, 95% CI 7.2-9.3) than younger drinkers (beta = 3.4, 95% CI 3.1-3.7). Discussion and Conclusions Some commonly used screening items, such as drinking quantity and frequency, are differentially effective at identifying future heavy drinkers between age groups. Development of age-specific screening tools could potentially lead to more accurate identification of people who could benefit from intervention to reduce their alcohol consumption.

Alcohol taxation is a key policy to reduce consumption and alcohol harm but evidence on tax design and indicators to assess taxation policy are lacking. Tax design and two indicators: tax as a share of lowest retail price and affordability, were investigated in eight high-income and nine middle-income jurisdictions. Collaborators populated the International Alcohol Control (IAC) study online Alcohol Policy Tool, providing measures of tax design, tax rates; and typical lowest prices available for retail take-away alcohol. These data were used to calculate tax/share of retail price. Affordability of alcohol was assessed against gross national income (GNI) per capita. High-income jurisdictions had higher tax/share and higher affordability on average compared with middle-income jurisdictions. Over the sample as a whole there was no association between these two indicators of tax policy. The tax designs used also varied with high-income jurisdictions more likely to use specific excise tax reflecting potency and middle-income jurisdictions more likely to utilise ad valorem and specific volume based taxes and to use more than one method across a beverage. Increased alcohol taxation to reduce alcohol consumption and harm is established as a high impact policy and is believed to work by affecting affordability. However, less is known about the best taxation methods to reduce affordability or the best measures to monitor and compare alcohol taxation between countries and over time. In this sample of high- and middle-income jurisdictions tax/price share was not found to predict affordability, suggesting the need to further research indicators of alcohol affordability.

BACKGROUND:This systematic review examined differences in the way women and men have been studied in alcohol research over the past decade. In particular, it explored differences in methodology, discipline, country, subpopulation and age focus, to understand who is being studied and how. METHODS:Single-gender peer-reviewed studies on alcohol consumption published between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2023 were identified by searching Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus and CINAHL. Descriptive statistics and comparisons to Global Burden of Disease [GBD] estimates are presented to understand whether the studies' gendered focus were proportionate to the distribution of alcohol-related harms. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022359103). RESULTS:A total of 11,235 studies were identified, with 1,267 studies included. Despite consuming more alcohol and experiencing more harms, only 44% (n=554) of single gender studies were on men. One in three studies on men were from medical disciplines, whereas studies on women were more likely to come from psychology, public health or sociology disciplines. In several countries, including Australia, the disparity in the number of studies on women compared with GBD estimates of harms from alcohol consumption were particularly pronounced. CONCLUSIONS:The majority of single-gender studies on alcohol consumption in the last decade focused on women. There has been strong focus on men's health (medical focus), and on women's behaviour (psychology, public health and sociology focus). Researchers' choices around study foci can differentially shape public discourse, policies and clinical practice, with important implications for gender equity and treatment outcomes.

IntroductionAlcohol purchasing practices-linked to consumption practices and potential harms-vary across socio-economic environments. While there is an epidemiological link between purchasing and harm, little qualitative research unpacks purchasing practices with an eye to socio-economic status (SES). Drawing on qualitative interviews, this paper takes an ecological approach to examine how people in different SES areas discuss their alcohol purchasing practices to understand how SES influences alcohol purchasing.MethodsThis analysis draws on 45 interviews with people who drink alcohol in Victoria, Australia conducted in 2023-2024. Participants were purposively recruited from low, middle and high SES neighbourhoods. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.ResultsAccessibility to alcohol outlets influenced purchasing patterns, with those in low SES neighbourhoods facing barriers to accessing on-premises venues. Neighbourhood-level norms shaped feelings of safety and enthusiasm for attending on-premises venues, often tied to local gentrification. Low SES neighbourhood participants were more constrained by on-premises costs but less conscious of alcohol budgeting, in contrast to the middle and high SES neighbourhood participants, who were more intentional about their budgeting. Participants from all groups noted cost of living concerns influenced alcohol affordability, contrasting this with the continued affordability of cheap wine.Discussion and ConclusionThis analysis provides important context as to how neighbourhood SES can influence purchasing practices. Notably, the emphasis on off-premises purchasing was common across the groups, influenced by cost of living pressures and perceived affordability of wine.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Internationally, rates of harm from alcohol tend to be higher in lower socio-economic groups, even while drinking is lower. This is known as the alcohol harm paradox. There are very little Australian data published on socio-economic disparities in alcohol consumption and harm, and none that has examined changes over time. This paper aimed to describe trends in socio-economic inequalities in key measures of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm over 21 years in Victoria, Australia. DESIGN:Trend analysis of population rates of separate data on hospital, emergency department and drinking behaviour. SETTING:Victoria, Australia, between 2000 and 2020. PARTICIPANTS/CASES:Survey data from 37 422 respondents plus 841 792 hospital admissions and 591 824 emergency department presentations. MEASUREMENTS:Socio-economic status was measured using an area-based index based on postcode of residence, divided into quintiles. Two measures of drinking were assessed based on survey responses: annual volume of drinking and frequency of risky (50 g or more) drinking occasions. Chronic harms were measured via hospital admissions for alcohol-related liver disease and acute harms via emergency department presentations for alcohol-related disorders. Differences in drinking and harm rates across quintiles were assessed using negative binomial regression, with interactions to examine whether the social gradients changed over time. FINDINGS:For men, there were no statistically significant differences in either total volume of drinking or frequency of episodic risky drinking between socio-economic quintiles. For women, volume of drinking was generally higher for those living in more advantaged neighbourhoods [e.g. Incident Rate Ratio (IRR) = 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32-1.95 for women in the most advantaged compared with most disadvantaged], while frequency of episodic risky drinking did not differ statistically significantly. Trends in drinking on either measure did not differ by socio-economic status for men or women. Alcohol-related harms were higher for people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods for most outcomes and sub-groups analysed. For example, male rates of alcohol-related liver disease were nearly twice as high in the most disadvantaged quintile as in the least disadvantaged quintile (IRR = 0.54, CI = 0.50-0.58). On some measures there was evidence that the gap between socio-economic groups had widened over time. CONCLUSIONS:Despite similar or lower levels of alcohol consumption, people living in more disadvantaged socio-economic areas of Victoria, Australia, appear to experience much higher rates of alcohol-related harm than those in more advantaged areas, with some disparities widening over time.

INTRODUCTION:Although price is critical in determining alcohol purchase and subsequent harms, researchers rarely have access to comprehensive alcohol price data. Web scraping is an advanced data collection technique that uses automated computer scripts to efficiently gather extensive website data. The aims of this paper are to demonstrate web scraping's capacity to generate alcohol policy relevant data, and to assess the method's consistency by comparing datasets collected by a commercial provider with those produced by a university-developed scraper. METHODS:Price and product data from the entire online catalogues of major retailers representing the majority of the Australian market were scraped daily by the commercial provider since 2020, with data collected from all jurisdictions, and products sold by multiple retailers matched. A university-developed web scraper collected a single-day's catalogue data from the country's largest alcohol retailer to compare with the commercial dataset as a reliability cross-check. RESULTS:Of the 16,409 products identified in both the commercial and university databases, there was an excellent match on the product prices (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.997 [95 %CI: 0.9972-0.9973]). A visualisation from the three largest Australian retailers demonstrated how daily prices varied over a 12-month period, for example with more frequent price changes for Australia's largest retailer compared to the second and third, and across jurisdictions, such as some deeper discounting in Victoria. DISCUSSION:This study presented an independently cross-checked large-scale and longitudinal web scraping approach to collect alcohol price data, and demonstrated that the adapted data could aid understanding of the alcohol retail market. Web scraping is a feasible method to collect price data to support the development of evidence-based alcohol price policy.

INTRODUCTION:Adolescent alcohol consumption has declined in many high-income countries, with some evidence pointing toward shifts in parenting practices as a key driver. Parenting styles related to alcohol use may be influenced by the generation of the parent. This study aims to investigate the role of parental generation on alcohol consumption in 15-year-olds. METHODS:Data from 2904 15-year-old respondents were extracted from 18 annual waves (2002-2019) of a long-running Australian cohort study. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether parental birth cohort significantly differed between drinkers and abstainers, and whether that relationship changed across time. The birth year of the oldest parent was used to assign them to one of three cohorts. The child's socio-demographic variables (age, gender, socio-economic disadvantage, cultural background, school attendance and regionality) and family dynamics and structure (age of oldest parent at birth, number of parents, parental alcohol consumption, having an older sibling) were controlled for in the analyses. RESULTS:Later survey wave (odds ratio 0.87) and attending school (odds ratio 0.23) decreased the likelihood of alcohol drinking for 15-year-olds. Having a parent who drinks (odds ratio 2.71), an older sibling (odds ratio 1.39), a single parent (odds ratio 1.68) and living outside a city (odds ratio 1.31) also predicted an increased likelihood of alcohol consumption. Having a parent from an earlier cohort was not significantly associated with adolescent alcohol consumption. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:The study found no evidence to suggest that parents' birth cohort influenced adolescent alcohol consumption.