Mapping the Social Consequences of Alcohol Consumption

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Introduction: Social consequences of alcohol — the forgotten dimension?

   • H. Klingemann, G. Gmel

   Pages 1-9

3. Concepts, dimensions and measures of alcohol-related social consequences — A basic framework for alcohol-related benefits and harm

   • J. Rehm

   Pages 11-19

4. What is meant by ‘alcohol-related’ consequences?

   • K. Pernanen

   Pages 21-31

5. Alcohol consumption and social harm: quantitative research methodology

   • G. Gmel, E. Gutjahr

   Pages 33-52

6. Consequences of drinking to friends and the close social environment

   • K. Pernanen

   Pages 53-65

7. The impact of alcohol consumption on work and education

   • J. Rehm, I. Rossow

   Pages 67-77

8. Problem drinking and relatives

   • E. Maffli

   Pages 79-91

9. Accidents, suicide and violence

   • I. Rossow, K. Pernanen, J. Rehm

   Pages 93-112

10. Public order and safety

    • H. Klingemann

    Pages 113-132

11. The social costs of alcohol consumption

    • E. Gutjahr, G. Gmel

    Pages 133-143

12. Harm minimization

    • M. Plant

    Pages 145-160

13. Community initiatives as strategies for implementation of the European Alcohol Action Plan

    • M. Holmila

    Pages 161-170

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.

• World Health Organization
• alcohol
• health
• prevention
• suicide

`...this book is hugely worthwhile. It is an elegant and erudite attempt to gather data, which are notably dispersed in the alcohol literature.'
Alcohol and Alcoholism 37:1 (2002)

• Institute for Social Planning and Social Management, University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland

  Harald Klingemann

• Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems, Lausanne, Switzerland

  Gerhard Gmel

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