Alcohol-use disorders: prevention

Appendix D: Gaps in the evidence

The PDG identified a number of gaps in the evidence related to the programmes under examination, based on an assessment of the evidence. These gaps are set out below.

1. There is only limited evidence on how alcohol advertising affects consumption among the adult population.

2. There is only limited evidence on the effectiveness of brief alcohol-related interventions aimed at those under the age of 18 and those from black and minority ethnic groups within the UK.

3. Little is known about how brief interventions work and which elements are particularly effective. For example, there is only limited evidence on the settings and populations where brief advice or motivational interviewing will be more effective or cost effective.

4. There is variable evidence on the effectiveness of using brief interventions outside primary care and emergency departments.

5. There is little UK-based evidence on the cost effectiveness of different types of brief intervention.

6. There is a lack of good quality evaluations of UK community-based programmes to prevent alcohol problems.

Source: Review 1, review 2 and review 4 (see appendix E for details).

The Group made 7 recommendations for research.