Alcohol policy content analysis: a comparison of public health and alcoholindustry trade newsletters

A content analysis mas designed to discover both discrepancies and common g round between two public health and two alcohol industry trade newsletters with respect to alcohol policy. A total of 203 articles were coded accordin g to key topics. Results across all newsletters showed 11 topics that appea red in more than 25% of selected articles. Among such frequently cited topi cs were drinking and driving and industry advertising. Comparison between t he two types of newsletter showed significant differences for mentions of y outh and prevention (more in public health) and taxation (more in trade). T he authors discuss why certain topics are more popular than others, and the different presentation style of the two types of newsletter. Evidence for a possible convergence of interests between public health and industry repr esentatives appears mainly with regard to youth and drinking and driving. F uture research might explore the implications of this convergence of intere sts.