Alcohol, Social Development and Infectious Disease- New report

During the Global Expert Meeting on Alcohol, a groundbreaking new study made its way to the stage. "Alcohol, Social Development and Infectious Disease”, as the study is called, links alcohol consumption, especially heavy drinking, to the risk of getting infectious diseases such as TB and pneumonia. Furthermore, it shows that alcohol consumption has an influence on the progression of TB and HIV in already infected persons, and impairs the use of preventive services by such persons.

According to the article, the link between “alcohol and the risk of infectious diseases is confounded by poverty, social exclusion, and social mixing patterns, including frequenting specific drinking establishments”. Therefore, the impact is highest in low income countries with a high consumption rate.

Alcohol related diseases contribute to 13.5% of deaths. This study also shows that the risks are higher for men than for women.

Cost-effective alcohol policy interventions should be practiced. Not only will such interventions reduce the risk for alcohol-related infectious diseases, but it will also help improve economic and social development in low to middle income countries.

Such interventions include bringing illicit markets under government control, managing the price of alcohol and regulating the availability of alcohol in urban environments.

Political will, the development of a national alcohol action plan, development agencies and philanthropic foundations providing technical support are other means of reducing consumption.

For the full report, please go to:

http://www.se2009.eu/polopoly_fs/1.21749!menu/standard/file/ALCOHOL1.PDF