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cohort·epidemiology, public health, family medicine, internal medicine·PMC10204963

Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the nature of attempts to stop smoking and to reduce alcohol consumption in Great Britain: A representative population survey, 2021–2022

PLOS ONE · 8 authors, 3 centres

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TL;DR

A representative monthly population survey of 14,567 past-year smokers and high-risk drinkers in Great Britain (January 2021–December 2022) examined whether the cost-of-living crisis changed the nature of smoking cessation and alcohol reduction attempts. There was limited overall impact: cost motivation for alcohol reduction doubled among less advantaged drinkers, paid e-cigarette use in quit attempts increased, and GP support rates remained low.

Full summary

523 CHARS

This study used monthly representative population surveys (January 2021–December 2022) comprising 54,360 total respondents, of whom 14,567 unique past-year smokers and high-risk drinkers were analysed. The proportion of quit attempts motivated by cost remained stable among smokers at approximately 25.4%, but roughly doubled among high-risk drinkers from less advantaged social grades (from 15.3% to 29.7%). Among GP visitors, offer of support did not change significantly for smokers (27.0%) or high-risk drinkers (1.4%).

STUDY TYPE

cohort

SPECIALTY

epidemiology

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AI pipeline

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100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10204963

Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the nature of attempts to stop smoking and to reduce alcohol consumption in Great Britain: A representative population survey, 2021–2022

PLOS ONE

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ABSTRACT

Background Smoking and excessive drinking place a strain on household budgets. We aimed to examine the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in Great Britain on the nature of smoking cessation and alcohol reduction attempts, and explore changes in health professionals offering support. Methods Data were from 14,567 past-year smokers and high-risk drinkers (AUDIT-C ≥5) participating in monthly representative surveys, January-2021 through December-2022. We estimated time trends in cost as a motive driving the most recent (smoking cessation/alcohol reduction) attempt, use of paid or evidence-based support, and receipt of GP offer of support for smoking cessation or alcohol reduction, and tested for moderation by occupational social grade. Results The proportion of attempts motivated by cost did not change significantly over time among smokers (25.4% [95%CI = 23.8–26.9%]), but increased between December-2021 and December-2022 among high-risk drinkers from less advantaged social grades (from 15.3% [95%CI 12.1–19.3] to 29.7% [20.1–44.1]). The only change in support use was an increase in smokers using paid support, specifically e-cigarettes (from 28.1% [23.7–33.3] to 38.2% [33.0–44.4]). Among those visiting their GP, the proportion who received an offer of support was similar over time among smokers (27.0% [25.7–28.2]) and high-risk drinkers (1.4% [1.1–1.6%]). Conclusions There is limited evidence that the 2021/22 cost-of-living crisis affected the nature of attempts to stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption, or receipt of GP offer of support. It is encouraging that use of evidence-based support has not declined and that use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts has increased. However, cost is increasingly motivating alcohol reduction attempts among less advantaged drinkers, and rates of GPs offering support, especially for alcohol reduction, remain very low.

CITATION EXPORT

Sarah E. Jackson, Sharon Cox, Lion Shahab et al.. Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the nature of attempts to stop smoking and to reduce alcohol consumption in Great Britain: A representative population survey, 2021–2022. PLOS ONE. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286183

AUTHORS

8 · 3 CENTRES

Sarah E. Jackson, Sharon Cox, Lion Shahab, Jamie Brown, Anil Gumber, Anil Gumber, Anil Gumber, Anil Gumber

1 Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
2 SPECTRUM Consortium, London, United Kingdom
Sheffield Hallam University, UNITED KINGDOM

EDITOR / REVIEWER

Anil Gumber