Alcohol is a poisonous and psychoactive substance with addictive properties. In many societies today, alcoholic beverages are a regular part of the social landscape for many people. This is especially true for people in social environments with high visibility and social influence at home and abroad, where alcohol is often associated with social contact. In this context, it is easy to ignore or reduce the health and social hazards that drinking can cause or cause.
Alcohol consumption accounts for 3 million deaths, injuries and illnesses for millions of people worldwide. Overall, consumption of harmful alcohol accounts for 5.1% of the global disease burden.
Consumption of harmful alcohol accounts for 7.1% and 2.2% of the total disease burden in men and women, respectively. Alcohol is a major risk factor for premature death and disability at ages 15 to 49, accounting for 10 percent of all deaths in this age group. Alcohol-related deaths and hospitalization are more common in disadvantaged and highly vulnerable populations.