Changes in private alcohol importation after alcohol tax reductions and import allowance increases in Denmark.

AIMS: This paper examines changes in alcohol import in Denmark between 2003 and 2006, after the excise tax on spirits in Denmark was lowered by 45% on October 1, 2003 and travellers' allowances for alcohol import were increased on January1, 2004. Additionally, the paper seeks to develop a profile of alcohol importers and analyse the relation between the distance to the German border and import behaviour, as Germany is the main alcohol import country for Denmark. DATA: Cross-sectional and panel data from Denmark, from 2003 to 2006, were analyzed.

Socio-demographic correlates of alcohol consumption in the Danish general population.

Aims: Little is known about specific Danish drinking patterns. This paper investigates how various socio-demographic factors are related to Danish alcohol consumption with special focus on age and sex.

Methods: Data come from a national telephone survey of the Danish general population conducted in 2003 with a final sample size of 2,030 cases.

Computed tomography-bronchoscopic simulation for guiding transbronchial fine needle aspiration of extramural targets: a phantom study.

Objectives: Extramural paratracheal/-bronchial tumors of the mediastinum and the hilum that cannot be seen in bronchoscopy constitute a particular challenge for transbronchial fine needle aspiration cytology. A software prototype was developed as a guidance tool to visualize extramural targets on computed tomography (CT)-bronchoscopy. A phantom study was conducted to evaluate this guidance tool.

Drinking patterns and their gender differences in Europe.

Aims: To compare drinking habits and to examine differences between drinking cultures in different regions and countries in Europe; to examine gender differences in drinking habits and to compare them over countries.

Methods: Data consisted of independently conducted, centrally analysed surveys in the general population aged 20-64 years in 14 European countries. Central measures were abstention, frequency and volume of drinking overall and by beverage type, amounts drunk per drinking day, and heavy episodic drinking.

Gender and cultural differences in the association between family roles, social stratification, and alcohol use: a European cross-cultural analysis.

Aims: First, this paper investigates (i) gender differences in associations of social stratification, family roles, and heavy drinking, and (ii) country differences in these associations. Second, it seeks to explain country differences in the associations of social stratification and family roles with alcohol consumption by societal level variables.

Methods: Survey data of 25 to 49-years-old from eight European countries were used.

Social inequalities in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in the study countries of the EU concerted action 'Gender, Culture and Alcohol Problems: a Multi-national Study'.

Aims: We investigated the presence of social inequalities of alcohol use and misuse using educational attainment as an indicator of socio-economic status in 15 countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Israel, Brazil, and Mexico.

Methods: Study surveys were independently conducted and the data centrally analysed. Most samples were national.

A comparison of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) in general population surveys in nine European countries.

Aims: This study explored the suitability of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) for cross-national comparable estimates of problem drinking in general populations. On the item level the focus is on responsiveness to cross-national and gender differences. For the set of items the focus is on intercorrelations between items, indicating to what extent the AUDIT constitutes a scale.

Developments in alcohol consumption in reunited Germany.

Aims: To investigate changes in measures of frequency of general alcohol and beverage-specific alcohol drinking in eastern and western Germany between 1991 and 1998.

Design, Setting And Participants: Data come from two nationally representative health surveys, one conducted in 1991/1992 and the other in 1998. The earlier sample comprises two separate surveys, a 1991 western German survey (n = 5255) and a 1992 eastern German survey (n = 2211); the sample from 1998 contains information from 5463 people.