AllCool: Heavy episodic drinking among young adults in Southern Europe

CHALLENGE

Heavy Episodic Drinking – the sporadic and acute alcohol intoxication – is a widespread drinking pattern widespread in the northern Europe countries. Nevertheless, in the last decades Heavy Episodic Drinking has become a growing trend in Southern Europe, traditionally considered a moderated drinking culture. Although there is a wide range of studies in its impact on health, there are still some gaps concerning the relation between alcohol use, socioeconomic factors (low income, social inequality and unemployment) and certain cultural and environmental aspects shared by Southern European countries. Moreover, the European Union has been stressing the need to increase research to support implementation of evidence and cost-effective practices in preventing alcohol related harm.

ANSWER

To address this issue, a consortium of collaborating stakeholders from Italy (Azienda Unita Sanitaria Locale di Bologna), Portugal (Agência Piaget para o Desenvolvimento) and Spain (Spora Sinergies SCCL) develop AllCool project. This project includes four lines of action:

• Conduct a research to know the Heavy Episodic Drinking pattern in the local level and compare the results between the three countries.
• Design and implement an evidence-based pilot intervention in each country and evaluate them.
• Elaborate a toolkit sharing best practices and providing general guidelines that help the design and implementation of prevention strategies.
• Produce national and European policy recommendations to address Heavy Episodic Drinking.