While countless studies over the years have touted the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, the World Heart Federation (WHF) has released a new policy brief that calls for "urgent and decisive action to tackle the unprecedented rise in alcohol-related death and disability worldwide.”
The document, available in full here, focuses on the negative impact alcohol can have on a person's health. The WHF also examines the alcohol “harms versus benefit” debate, offering recommendations for both individuals and policymakers to help combat wha the “deadly impact of alcohol globally."
“The portrayal of alcohol as necessary for a vibrant social life has diverted attention from the harms of alcohol use, as have the frequent and widely publicized claims that moderate drinking, such as a glass of red wine a day, can offer protection against cardiovascular disease.” Monika Arora, a co-author of the brief and member of the WHF Advocacy Committee, said in a prepared statement. “These claims are at best misinformed and at worst an attempt by the alcohol industry to mislead the public about the danger of their product.”
According to the policy brief, nearly 2.4 million people died due to alcohol use in 2019. Alcohol is also described as a “psychoactive and harmful substance that has become a common accompaniment of social events in many parts of the world."
The authors also noted that alcohol use is "a major avoidable risk factor" for cardiovascular disease, cancer, digestive diseases and other serious conditions.
In addition, they highlighted the economic and social costs attributable to alcohol, including costs to health systems, and the impact on such issues as homelessness and criminal activity.