In terms of global alcohol consumption, Russia has been consistently considered one of the countries with the highest track record of heavy drinking. 

However, recent figure have found Russian alcohol consumption has decreased by 43% from 2003 to 2016, according to a report published by the WHO.

Some explanations as to this positive downward trend include the introduction advertising restrictions, increased taxes on alcohol, a ban on alcohol sales between certain hours, and banned street drinking.

The introduction of alcohol-control measures has coincided with increased efforts to encourage...

It is recognised that harmful alcohol consumption is more common amongst those who have served in the UK armed forces. 

However this is not just an issue for the individual who has served in the army. In a recent study conducted by researchers at Kings College London, they found that alcohol is also an increased problem amongst female spouses and partners of military personnel.

The researchers found that female spouses and partners of military personnel were more likely to describe symptoms of depression and to report binge-drinking than women in the general population.

Further research is...

The purpose of this study is to characterize the prevalence of the use and abuse of alcohol in high school students in Buenos Aires City. During October 2014, 2870 surveys were collected on a representative sample, probabilistic and two-stages type, of the population of young people in both public and private high schools. The results show that 66.9 % of the students consume alcohol at some point in their life and that the average age of their first consumption is 13.7 years old. Alcohol abuse accounts for the 81.9% of the consumption within the last 30 days the study was conducted.

Could combinations of three strategies - training and support, financial reimbursement, and the opportunity to refer patients to a website - effectively and cost-effectively boost delivery of brief alcohol interventions in five European countries, including England? The aim was to find the best way to narrow the gap in primary care between the number of patients who could benefit from these interventions and those who receive them. An important trial whose findings we analyse in depth, and for which we have updated our analysis of the cost-effectiveness findings.

The prevalence of binge drinking- the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time- is increasing across Asia.

Previous research has shown revealed links between heavy drinking and poor mental health outcomes. However, there is a lack of research exploring this association in populations in Asia.

In a recent study, published in the journal of Addictive behaviours, researchers have the past-year prevalence of binge drinking in Singapore and its associations with socio-demographic factors, mental health conditions and quality of life.

The researchers examined data...

Alcohol remains one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances in Europe. Despite being a major risk factor for burden of disease, with substantial impacts not only on individual drinkers but also on the broader society, alcohol consumption in Europe continues to be almost double the global average.

In 2011, the WHO European Region adopted the European action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol 2012–2020 (EAPA).

This report provides a snapshot of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harm and alcohol policy responses in 30 European countries – European Union Member States, Norway...

Almost every organ system is affected by alcohol. Drinking in moderation may cause problems to one's body, and drinking heavily over the years can cause irreversible damage. However, most diseases caused by excessive drinking can be prevented.

The NIAAA interactive body resource allows you to explore how alcohol impacts the organs within our body.

The negative impact of harmful substance use on societies physical and mental wellbeing is a global issue. Substance use disorders are associated with a significant disease burden.

In recognition of this, Addiction is initiating a new series of commissioned reviews, Clinical issues: substance use disorders and the body.

The first in the series, Alcohol use disorders and the heart, gives an overview of the impact of low, medium and high levels of alcohol consumption on the heart. 

The researchers also focus in on the clinical presentation, pathological mechanisms, assessment, management and...

Both alcohol and tobacco use is an increasing public health concern in low- or middle-income countries. Due to an annual economic growth rate of approximately 10%, Ethiopia is a target for both the alcohol and tobacco industries.

Although data is limited, trends suggest that alcohol consumption is a particular problem among secondary school students.

A recent study, published in the Journal of Public Health, has sought to measure the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption in young people living in Ethiopia, and the risk factors associated with alcohol and tobacco initiation.

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Although alcohol consumption among young people in the UK has been declining there remains a concerning level of binge drinking amongst 16–24-year-olds.

One intervention, that is cost-effective and has a wide reach, is the inclusion of health messaging and product-related information on alcohol packaging. It is important therefore to understand how much information is being processed and recalled by young people.

A cross-sectional study, published in the Journal of Public Health, has examined awareness and recall of product information among adolescents and young adults aged 11–19 years old...

Abstract

Background

Alcohol use during pregnancy can have a variety of harmful consequences on the fetus. Lifelong effects include growth restriction, characteristic facial anomalies, and neurobehavioral dysfunction. This range of effects is known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). There is no amount, pattern, or timing of alcohol use during pregnancy proven safe for a developing embryo or fetus. Therefore, it is important to screen patients for alcohol use, inform them about alcohol's potential effects during pregnancy, encourage abstinence, and refer for intervention if necessary...