Alcohol is one of the biggest risk factors for ill health globally. It affects not only the drinker – but entire families and communities. 

In our international work, we see how alcohol contributes to illness, insecurity and limited life chances. That is why alcohol prevention is a central part of the work for better public health. 

Alcohol causes disease and premature death 

Every year, more than 2,5 million people worldwide die from alcohol. Among young adults, alcohol is the leading risk factor for ill health and premature death. 

Alcohol is linked to over 200 diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and mental illness. It also contributes to traffic and workplace accidents – and to violence. 

Alcohol drives the global burden of disease 

Non-communicable diseases account for approximately 70 percent of all deaths globally, and alcohol is one of the most important risk factors behind this development. 

The consequences are particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, where access to healthcare is often limited. Diseases are detected late and have greater consequences – both for the individual and society. 

Alcohol affects more than just the drinker 

The harms of alcohol do not stop with the person who drinks. 

Children, families and entire communities are affected by violence, insecurity and economic problems. Research shows that these so-called secondary damages are extensive – and often underestimated. 

This is how we create better public health 

Reducing the harmful effects of alcohol requires both knowledge and structural changes. 

We work closely with people in their everyday lives – in communities, schools and families – where knowledge and support can make a difference. At the same time, we push for laws and policies that reduce access to alcohol and protect the population. 

Evidence-based measures, such as taxation, regulation and restrictions on marketing, are crucial to reducing both consumption and harm. 

Public health is about more than disease 

When the harmful effects of alcohol decrease, something important happens. 

People will have better health, families will be safer and more people will be able to live active and independent lives. 

Alcohol prevention is therefore an investment in both the lives of individuals and the development of society.