Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2011

Overview

The public health objective on alcohol of the World Health Organization (WHO) is to reduce the health burden caused by the harmful use of alcohol and, thereby, to save lives, reduce disease and prevent injuries. The hazardous and harmful use of alcohol is a major global contributing factor to death, disease and injury: to the drinker through health impacts, such as alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis, cancers and injuries; and to others through the dangerous actions of intoxicated people, such as drink– driving and violence or through the impact of drinking on fetus and child development. The harmful use of alcohol results in approximately 2.5 million deaths each year, with a net loss of life of 2.25 million, taking into account the estimated benefi cial impact of low levels of alcohol use on some diseases in some population groups. Harmful drinking can also be very costly to communities and societies.