Editors' introduction International perspectives on drinking and damage based on population surveys and epidemiological studies

摘要

In recent decades there have been dramatic international changes in alcohol policy initiatives, access to alcohol, level of consumption, drinking patterns and damage associated with alcohol consumption. A number of studies have shown strong associations among drinking levels, drinking patterns and the physical harms and social problems derived from the effects of alcohol (e.g., Babor, Caetano, Casswell, Edwards, et al. 2003; Edwards 1994; Rehm, Chisholm, Room & Lopez 2006). Concurrently, evaluations and reviews of alcohol policies and other interventions demonstrate that some prevention strategies are more effective than others in reducing alcohol-related harms (Babor et al. 2003). However, recent changes in many jurisdictions have effectively increased access to alcohol, suggesting that drinking rates and levels of damage may increase in the future (e.g., World Health Organization (WHO) 2007).