Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Friday, January 22, 2010

Preventing alcohol related harm to health


Alcohol misuse poses a huge public health problem, particularly in Europe. More than a fifth of European adults admit to binge drinking (five or more drinks on one occasion, or 50 g alcohol) at least once a week; of all World Health Organization regions Europe has the greatest proportion of alcohol related ill health and premature death; and the overall social cost of alcohol to the European Union is around {euro}125bn (£110bn; $180bn) a year.1 In Scotland alone, adults drink the equivalent of 46 bottles of vodka, or 537 pints of beer, or 130 bottles of wine each a year.2 In England, more than a quarter of adults drink at hazardous levels, and the NHS spends £2.7bn a year on treating alcohol related conditions,3 while the overall cost to society of alcohol use each year amounts to around £20bn. 4 It is no wonder, however, that so many people drink so . . .

Read Full Text
_______________________________________
at