PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED MEASURES AGAINST ALCOHOL MISUSE AMONG PROBLEM AND NONPROBLEM DRINKERS

Perceptions of the effectiveness of 11 measures against alcohol mis-us e were examined in a community survey. School-based programming was mo st often and increased alcohol taxation least often rated effective. B inge drinking in the past year and male gender were inversely associat ed with perceived effectiveness, particularly of countermeasures with direct personal impact, including stricter enforcement of laws against driving while intoxicated and increased taxation. Studies of support for alcohol control have reported similar relationships between drinki ng behavior and support for measures imposing personal restrictions. P erceived effectiveness and support thus appear to be related yet disti nct constructs. Improved understanding of the interrelationships among perceived effectiveness, support, drinking behavior, and empirically demonstrated effectiveness of countermeasures may aid in identifying s trategies which are both effective and acceptable to targeted populati ons.