Beyond behaviours: How health inequality theory can enhance our understanding of the ‘alcohol harm paradox’

Read the event report for Jennifer Boyd's webinar: "Beyond behaviours: How health inequality theory can enhance our understanding of the ‘alcohol harm paradox’".

The ‘alcohol harm paradox’ is the finding that poorer people suffer more harm from alcohol than richer people, despite drinking the same or less. Boyd's presentation covered how 'traditional' behavioural explanations (such as binge drinking or multiple unhealthy behaviours) do not explain the paradox in full. Boyd describes how her literature review and use of health inequality theory have highlighted non-behavioural explanations for the paradox and research gaps relating to the cause of the paradox.

By using health inequality theory, research and policy can acknowledge the contribution of not only individual and behavioural factors, but also factors such as public policy and services, knowledge, and social connections on health and health inequalities. We discussed the need for collaborative, multi-sector policies which are designed and implemented with health and health inequalities in mind.