Impact of communal characteristics on alcohol consumption: evidence from rural Vietnam

Abstract

The research used the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey 2018 dataset and the Ordinary Least Square regression to analyze the causal relationship of the characteristics of the commune, focusing on factors such as unemployment rate, poverty rate, and society's vices (prostitution, drugs) and other factors affecting alcohol consumption by the commune. Research results show that rising unemployment rates tend to increase beer consumption. Meanwhile, social evils are prostitution and the poverty rate tends to increase alcohol consumption. Other factors including age, education, household size and an average price of alcohol and beer at the commune level also affect alcohol consumption. The research results not only contribute to empirical studies on the factors affecting the consumption of alcoholic beverages in developing countries but also provide policy recommendations to the government and the authorities to limit the consumption of beer and alcohol in the long term, including policies related to job creation, stabilize local security and order, reduce poverty, propagate harmful effects and tax policy related to alcohol.