Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity

Dedication

• The book is dedicated to Griffith Edwards and Esa Österberg, two pioneers in the field of alcohol studies.
• Griffith Edwards was a renowned scientist who contributed to the concept of alcohol dependence syndrome and was a leader in the UK National Addiction Centre.
• Esa Österberg was a co-author of the book and an expert in economics, social, and historical policy research.

Preface

• The book is the third edition of "Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity" and is part of a series of monographs that started with "Alcohol Control Policies in Public Health Perspective" in 1975.
• The book aims to provide an evidence-based approach to alcohol policy, highlighting the need for effective interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm.
• The authors acknowledge that the world has changed significantly since the first edition, with changes in global and local markets, and the growing importance of digital technologies.

The Authors' Perspective

• The authors recognize that alcohol is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and is a significant obstacle to sustainable development and human capital.
• They highlight the importance of global leaders adopting targets for alcohol in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Health Assembly's endorsement of the Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.
• The authors emphasize that alcohol policy is not just a health issue, but also a social and economic issue that requires a comprehensive approach.

The Book's Contribution

• The book provides a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence on alcohol policy, including the most effective interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm.
• It presents a detailed analysis of the public policy domain and process, as well as the policy actors involved.
• The book aims to promote an evidence-based policy response to alcohol-related problems and to inform policymakers about the most effective strategies to reduce harm.

The Global Burden of Disease

• The global burden of disease attributable to alcohol is significant, with millions of lives lost each year.
• The authors emphasize that these deaths are preventable and that evidence-informed actions can save many lives.

The Evolution of Alcohol Policy Research

• The book is part of a tradition of research on alcohol policy that started with "Alcohol Control Policies in Public Health Perspective" in 1975.
• The series has evolved over the years, with each edition building on the previous one and incorporating new research and evidence.
• The current edition updates the knowledge base on alcohol policy, including new interventions and strategies to reduce harm.Here are the study notes for the text:

Setting the Policy Agenda

• The book is about alcohol policy, its need, making, and impact on health and well-being.

Introduction to Alcohol Policy

• Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity, and policies are needed to prevent harm.
• The book is written for policymakers, scientists, and others interested in bridging the gap between research and policy.

Vignettes on the Effects of Alcohol

• Accidental death of intoxicated teenage boy in Brazil: Easy access to alcohol and ineffective policies lead to a teenage boy's death due to intoxication.
• Public drinking and contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic: In the UK, reopening of pubs during the pandemic led to non-compliance with restrictions, increasing virus transmission risks.
• Deaths and injury from methanol-adulterated alcoholic beverages in Africa: In Kenya and Uganda, methanol-adulterated brews caused deaths and blindness due to lack of policy enforcement.
• Year-end partying in Japan: Heavy drinking during the New Year's holiday season in Japan leads to intoxicated passengers on trains.

Historical Context of Alcohol Policy

• Early examples of local controls on alcohol production, distribution, and consumption date back to ancient China, Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome.
• In the late 19th century, alcohol control became an instrument of organized governmental efforts to protect public health.
• In the early 20th century, some countries imposed total prohibition.

Let me know if you'd like me to make any changes!### Alcohol Policy and Control Measures

• In response to public concerns, extra security guards and 'women-only' railway cars were introduced to minimize injuries and prevent sexual assaults.

Indigenous-Led Alcohol Control Policies in Australia

• In Tennant Creek, Aboriginal groups successfully lobbied for restrictions on payday alcohol sales, 4-litre cask wine, and takeaway sale hours.
• The 'Thirsty Thursday' policy led to a 19% decrease in alcohol consumption, reducing police incidents, hospital admissions, and women's shelter presentations.

Historical Development of Alcohol Policies

• Between 1914 and 1921, 13 self-governing countries, including the US, Canada, Norway, Iceland, Finland, and Russia, adopted laws prohibiting the manufacture and sale of most forms of beverage alcohol.
• Most of these laws were repealed within a decade and replaced by less extreme regulatory policies.

Current State of Alcohol Policies Worldwide

• Alcohol policy in Nordic countries in the 1950s was based on social welfare and public health considerations, featuring high excise duties, comprehensive state alcohol monopolies, and strict controls on availability.
• In contrast, Mediterranean wine-producing countries had few alcohol control policies until the early 1950s, with measures motivated by industrial or commercial interests.
• EU member states have converged on policies, with northern states decreasing regulation of production, distribution, and sales, while southern states introduced demand-reducing measures like advertising restrictions and drink-driving countermeasures.
• In North America, there has been a gradual loosening of alcohol control, with privatization of retail sales and decreased taxation, leading to increased availability and consumption.

Regional Dynamics and Case Studies

• In Eastern Europe, the collapse of communism led to diminished control over alcohol availability, but recent years have seen stricter policies, resulting in decreased disease and social harm.
• In Thailand, a comprehensive Alcohol Control Act and health promotion agency funded by alcohol taxes have led to a slowdown in consumption growth.
• In China, the abolition of the national alcohol monopoly in the 1980s led to increased consumption and liver disease rates.
• In India, varying state policies have not slowed consumption growth.
• In sub-Saharan Africa, attempts to implement stricter controls face opposition from transnational alcohol corporations.
• In South America, some successful country-level policies have restricted availability and implemented drink-driving countermeasures.

Public Health and Social Well-being Approach

• The "new public health" approach focuses on population-level drinking, beyond heavy drinkers, to address overall alcohol-related problems.
• Public health concepts provide an important vehicle to manage the health of populations in relation to alcohol use.
• The social well-being approach goes beyond medical and health concerns to include quality of life dimensions and aims to reduce the social consequences of drinking.