Research on alcohol-related consequences has traditionally focused
mainly on health aspects of alcohol consumption or effects which can be
more easily quantified or measured. It is evident that alcohol has many
consequences which can be characterised as `social' in nature and which
are not, or not only, medical and are directly health-related. Such
consequences include violence, crime, and psychosocial factors. The
increasing relevance of consequences of alcohol consumption other than
medical is also reflected in the second European Action Plan 2000-2004
of WHO, aiming at the prevention and reduction of harm done by alcohol
to the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
This book attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of social
consequences of alcohol consumption on the individual, group,
organisational, and societal level. It is a result of a two-year
collaborative study under the leadership of WHO-Euro with the
participation of alcohol researchers from Finland, Germany, Norway,
Scotland, and Switzerland. Although the book was written by experts in
the field, it is targeted not only at scientists, but at all people
dealing with alcohol-related problems in practice.