Worldwide WHO Findings and Initiative to control Alcohol consumption.
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is a psychoactive and toxic substance with dependence-producing properties. Alcohol has been widely used in many cultures for centuries, but it is associated with significant health risks and harms.
An estimated 474 000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases were caused by alcohol consumption in 2019.
Alcohol consumption also causes significant harm to others, not just to the person consuming alcohol. A significant part of alcohol-attributable disease burden arises from injuries such as road traffic accidents. In 2019, of a total of 298 000 deaths from alcohol-related road crashes, 156 000 deaths were caused by someone else’s drinking
Worldwide, 2.6 million deaths were attributable to alcohol consumption in 2019, of which 2 million were among men and 0.6 million among women.
An estimated 400 million people, or 7% of the world’s population aged 15 years and older, lived with alcohol use disorders. Of this, 209 million people (3.7% of the adult world population) lived with alcohol dependence.
The WHO report, which highlights the overall global scenario when it comes to alcohol and substance abuse also reveals that more than 31 per cent Indians are current drinkers, but alcohol consumption by the male population (40.9 per cent) is much higher than females (20.8 per cent).
WHO Initiative to control alcohol consumption:
The Global alcohol action plan 2022–2030, endorsed by WHO Member States, aims to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through effective, evidence-based strategies at national, regional and global levels. The plan outlines six key areas for action:
A. high-impact strategies and interventions,
B. advocacy and awareness,
C. partnership and coordination,
D. technical support and capacity-building,
E. knowledge production and information systems,
F. resource mobilization.
Sustainable Development Goal 3.5 on strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
The SAFER initiative, launched in 2018 by WHO and partners, supports countries to implement the high-impact, cost-effective interventions proven to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption.
The WHO Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH) presents data on levels and patterns of alcohol consumption, alcohol-attributable health and social consequences and policy responses across the world.