The effects of the socioeconomic status of residents in selected areas of Manila on their consumption of legal recreational substances: A basis for enhanced policy on consumption of luxury goods - Acebedo, Alfonso Antonio V.; Aquino, Kelsey P.; Ronato, Barbara Ezra Ann R.; Tupaz, Mark Daniel P.; Verceles, Ronald John G.; Vilela Miko Q. (Manila : PLM, 2023)
ABSTRACT: Legal recreational substances (LRS) are infused in various products that are consumes every day by Filipinos. LRS products, particularly caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, are goods that are not necessary to be consumed, but they provide psychoactive effect to their consumers. Furthermore, Filipinos unknowingly consume these substances through various incarnations of their products. Therefore, their consumption is possibly affected by their socioeconomic status, moderated by their demographic profile. In theory, Ernst Engel argued that these types of goods consumed by recreational purposes are more prevalent in the higher socioeconomic classes, specifically in terms of income. Studies also showed that educational level and occupation type determine the consumption of these LRS products. This study examined the phenomenon by determining the socioeconomic status (SES) and demographic profile, namely age and gender of residents in selected areas of Manila, as well as the level of their LRS consumption. The study used Purposive sampling with a quota of 150 respondents, 50 per selected administrative district, with equal representation of gender based on GPower statistical tool. The gathered data underwent a quantitative research design, particularly descriptive and inferential methods. The study found that the impact of SES indicators of LRS consumption varies, where income and educational level negatively influenced LRS consumption. On the contrary, occupation type has a positive influence on LRS consumption, where there is a higher level of occupation type. Demographic variables were also found to play moderating roles. The study found that age does not significantly moderate the relationship between socioeconomic status and LRS consumption but directly affects LRS consumption. In terms of gender, It significantly moderates the effect of education, where there is a strengthened negative impact of education on LRS consumption among non-males (female or LGBTQIA+). Furthermore, being male has a strengthening effect on occupation type$1 (Bs positive impact on LRS consumption. Overall, classifying as a female or LGBTQUIA+ significantly reduces the likelihood of consuming LRS products. Thus, the study suggested necessary enhanced policies for these luxury goods, such as tax reforms, educational initiatives, better policies for monitoring and tracking to protect consumers and improvements to the data collection variables.s
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Keywords: academic writing