Preventing Harmful Alcohol Use
One in three adults has engaged in binge drinking at least once in the previous month, and one in five teenagers has experienced drunkenness by age 15. Harmful patterns of alcohol consumption have far-reaching consequences for individuals, society and the economy. Using microsimulation modelling, this book analyses the cost of alcohol consumption in 52 countries (including OECD, European Union and G20 countries), showing how alcohol-related diseases reduce life expectancy, increase health care costs, decrease workers’ productivity and lower GDP. While recognising the importance of the alcohol industry in many countries, the report makes a strong economic case for enhancing policies to tackle harmful alcohol consumption.
The health and economic burden of alcohol consumption
This chapter provides an overview of the burden of diseases caused by alcohol consumption on population health and the economy. Based on the results of the OECD Strategic Public Health Planning for non-communicable diseases (SPHeP-NCDs) model, the chapter focuses on 52 countries, including OECD, European Union (EU27) and Group of 20 (G20) member countries, to assess the burden caused by consuming more than 1 drink per day for women and 1.5 drinks per day for men, and the burden of total alcohol consumption. Findings are produced for a number of dimensions including impacts on life expectancy, morbidity and mortality, health expenditure, employment and productivity. By using the OECD long-term economic model, the chapter explores the impact of alcohol-related diseases on gross domestic product (GDP) and tax rates.
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