The health burden related to harmful alcohol consumption, both in terms of morbidity and mortality, is considerable in most parts of the world (Rehm et al., 2009; WHO, 2011d). Alcohol use is associated with numerous harmful health and social consequences, including an increased risk of a range of cancers, stroke, and liver cirrhosis, among others. Foetal exposure to alcohol increases the risk of birth defects and intellectual impairment. Alcohol also contributes to death and disability through accidents and injuries, assault, violence, homicide and suicide, and is estimated to cause more than 2.5 million deaths worldwide per year (WHO, 2011d). WHO estimates that 4% of the global burden of disease is attributable to alcohol, which accounts for about as much mortality and disability as tobacco and hypertension (Rehm et al., 2009). In the United States, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death, accounting for 80,000 deaths per year and 2.3 million potential years of life lost (CDC, 2012). Health care costs associated with excessive drinking in the United States are estimated at USD 25.6 billion (Bouchery et al., 2006). In the Russian Federation, alcohol misuse was a major contributing factor to the sharp rise in premature mortality and decline in life expectancy during the 1990s (OECD, 2012c).