Reducing harm from alcohol: call to action.
Despite clear evidence of the major contribution alcohol makes to the global burden of disease and to substantial economic costs, focus on alcohol control is inadequate internationally and in most countries. Expansion of industrial production and marketing of alcohol is driving alcohol use to rise, both in emerging markets and in young people in mature alcohol markets. Cost-effective and affordable interventions to restrict harm exist, and are in urgent need of scaling up. Most countries do not have adequate policies in place. Factors impeding progress include a failure of political will, unhelpful participation of the alcohol industry in the policy process, and increasing difficulty in free-trade environments to respond adequately at a national level. An effective national and international response will need not only governments, but also non-governmental organisations to support and hold government agencies to account. International health policy, in the form of a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control, is needed to counterbalance the global conditions promoting alcohol-related harm and to support and encourage national action.
Casswell
Sally
S
Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. s.casswell@massey.ac.nz
Thamarangsi
Thaksaphon
T
D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003906:Developing Countries; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D014943:Global Health; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009938:Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration; D011057:Politics; D012307:Risk Factors; D040241:Social Marketing; D014944:World Health Organization / Q000458:organization & administration