The acceptability of alcohol screening and brief intervention for older adults in community venues

Evidence supports the effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions (ABI) in health-care settings but the acceptability of conducting ABIs in wider community venues such as supermarkets, hospital atriums and train stations remains unclear. This study examines the acceptability of conducting ABIs for older adults in community settings.

ABIs were conducted in community venues in five sites across the United Kingdom as part of the Drink Wise, Age Well program. ABIs used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption to measure alcohol use, with personalised feedback delivered in relation to alcohol intake. Data on age, gender, ethnicity, alcohol use and intention to change drinking was collected. Qualitative interviews to explore the acceptability of delivering ABIs within community venues were conducted with a sub-set of ABI recipients (n = 16) and practitioners (n = 12). Data were analysed using Framework Analysis.

A total of 3999 people received an ABI. Fifty-eight percent of ABI recipients were female. The largest age group was 50-54 years (28%). Almost 80% (n = 3180) of ABI recipients were drinking at hazardous levels. Of hazardous drinkers that were asked (n = 2726), 40% reported intentions to change their drinking. Qualitative analysis indicted that ABIs conducted in community venues were acceptable and considered to be valuable in raising awareness of alcohol-related risks.

Community venues represent a promising context to engage older people in alcohol intervention, with the potential to lead to reductions in alcohol consumption.