Alcohol and Health

The consumption of alcohol is very common worldwide, although it carries a risk of adverse health and social consequences related to its intoxicating, toxic and dependence-producing properties. Overall, 4% of the global burden of disease is attributable to alcohol, which accounts for about as much death and disability globally as tobacco or hypertension. Alcohol consumption is the leading risk factor for disease burden in low mortality developing countries and the third largest risk factor in developed countries. Beyond the numerous chronic health effects, alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of acute health conditions, such as injuries, including from traffic accidents. Furthermore, harmful drinking among young people and women is an increasing concern in many countries. Drinking to intoxication and heavy episodic drinking are frequent among adolescents and young adults, with the negative impact of alcohol use being greater in younger age groups of both sexes. The global burden related to alcohol consumption, both in terms of morbidity and mortality, is considerable.

A Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol

In May 2008, the World Health Assembly have considered the report of the Secretariat "Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol" and adopted the resolution WHA 61.4 that, inter alia, mandated WHO to prepare a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. The planned process of implementing the resolution and preparing the draft strategy involved the consultation and collaboration of Member States, as well as the consultation of NGOs, Health professionals and economic actors.

The WMA participated in the Roundtable meeting with NGOs and health professionals on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol (24-25 November 2008) and presented a statement based on its current Policy on this issue.

A draft of the WHO Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol was approved by the WHO Executive Board at its January 2010 session. The WMA made a public statement on behalf of the World Health Professional Alliance at the January session backing the strategy in view of its adoption. The Strategy was finally approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2010.

Read more: The Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol (WHO website)

Global Alcohol Policy Conference (February 2012, Bangkok)

The Global Alcohol Policy Conference will be held on February 13-15 February in Bangkok. The conference will mark an important milestone for global alcohol control efforts following on from the endorsement of the WHO Global Strategy on Alcohol in 2010.

It will bring together leaders worldwide who are committed to working towards the development and implementation of effective alcohol policy free from commercial influence. It will also provide an opportunity for policy makers and civil society actors to share and exchange their knowledge and experience. Finally, the conference will be a platform for developing a truly global network and for discussing future efforts at the global level to reduce problems from alcohol.

There will be possibilities to present papers or a poster and there are some opportunities for financial support.

For further information, please visit the Conference's website.

WMA Current Policy & Action

The WMA has a long-standing commitment towards the reduction of the harmful impact of alcohol on health and society. The core policy of the Association is its Statement on Reducing the Global Impact of Alcohol on Health and Society adopted in Santiago in October 2005.

Since 2008 - with the aim of being fully engaged in the process and bringing forward the physicians’ perspectives in the global discussion - the WMA has intensified its activities in the framework of the WHO’s actions related to the Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol.

The WMA supported and chaired the NGO briefing: “Towards a global strategy to reduce alcohol harm”(23 October 2008, Geneva) organised by the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance. The WMA contributed as well to the WHO public hearing on ways of reducing harmful use of alcohol (October 2008)

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Useful links