Evaluation of the Estonian Green Paper on Alcohol Policy
Overview
The Green Paper on Alcohol Policy has been Estonia’s strategy document for addressing alcohol-related harms since 2013. Its objectives include: reducing alcohol consumption and curbing harmful drinking patterns; preventing underage drinking; minimizing alcohol-related crime, social problems and health damage; and developing treatment and rehabilitation services for alcohol dependence.
This technical report evaluates the public health impact of the Green Paper and associated policies, providing evidence-based insights for future alcohol control efforts in Estonia. The evaluation analyses alcohol consumption and related harms in Estonia from 2000 to 2023, focusing on periods before and after the implementation of the Green Paper’s recommendations. Following the Green Paper’s adoption (2013–2019), adult per capita alcohol consumption in Estonia decreased notably.
Key indicators, such as age-standardized all-cause mortality and life expectancy at birth, demonstrated positive trends until the onset of the coronavirus disease pandemic. Evaluation of specific indicators revealed mixed outcomes: while there was a notable reduction in alcohol consumption and intoxication among minors, the target of reducing the annual population alcohol consumption to under 8 L per capita was not achieved. Although policy implementation coincided with decreases in alcohol-attributable injuries and mortality rates, it is challenging to attribute these improvements solely to the Green Paper.
