Jernigan D H, Monteiro M, Room R, Saxena S
Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems, San Rafael, CA, USA.
Bull World Health Organ. 2000;78(4):491-9.
In 1983 the World Health Assembly declared alcohol-related problems to be among the world's major health concerns. Since then, alcohol consumption has risen in developing countries, where it takes a heavy toll. Alcohol-related problems are at epidemic levels in the successor states of the Soviet Union and are responsible for 3.5% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost globally. Substantial evidence exists of the relationship between the levels and patterns of alcohol consumption on the one hand and the incidence of alcohol-related problems on the other. Over the past 20 years, research has demonstrated the effectiveness of public policies involving, for example, taxation and restrictions on alcohol availability, in reducing alcohol-related problems. In the wake of rapid economic globalization, many of these policies at national and subnational levels have been eroded, often with the support of international financial and development organizations. Development agencies and international trade agreements have treated alcohol as a normal commodity, overlooking the adverse consequences of its consumption on productivity and health. WHO is in a strong position to take the lead in developing a global alcohol policy aimed at reducing alcohol-related problems, providing scientific and statistical support, capacity-building, disseminating effective strategies and collaborating with other international organizations. Such leadership can play a significant part in diminishing the health and social problems associated with alcohol use.
1983年，世界卫生大会宣布与酒精相关的问题是世界主要健康问题之一。自那时以来，发展中国家的酒精消费量有所上升，这些问题造成了沉重的损失。与酒精相关的问题在苏联的继承国达到了流行程度，占全球残疾调整生命年（DALYs）损失的3.5%。有大量证据表明，一方面酒精消费的水平和模式与另一方面与酒精相关问题的发生率之间存在关联。在过去20年里，研究表明，诸如税收和限制酒精供应等公共政策在减少与酒精相关的问题方面是有效的。在经济快速全球化之后，国家和国家以下各级的许多此类政策受到侵蚀，而侵蚀往往得到国际金融和发展组织的支持。发展机构和国际贸易协定将酒精视为普通商品，忽视了其消费对生产力和健康的不利影响。世卫组织有能力率先制定一项旨在减少与酒精相关问题的全球酒精政策，提供科学和统计支持、能力建设、传播有效战略并与其他国际组织合作。这种领导作用可以在减少与饮酒相关的健康和社会问题方面发挥重要作用。
