Alcohol dependence in an uncertain economy

It has been well documented that some people's problems with alcohol dependence are exacerbated by stress and depression, with many alcoholics saying they turn to drinking after the loss of a loved one or a period of financial hardship. With the economic difficulties that have been faced around the world - as joblessness and debt levels have risen - it could therefore be expected that the need for alcoholism help will increase.

Indeed, a Nielsen study from 2008 revealed that rather than spend less money on alcohol because their disposable income had declined, 80 per cent of consumers were spending the same or more on beer, wine and spirits than before. The trend could add to the financial problems being faced by families, in addition to the pressure an increase in consumption places on the public purse.

Figures from the UK government indicate that the annual cost of alcohol abuse stands at £20 billion in England and Wales, when factors such as damage to health, crime and disorder and loss of productivity are considered. A study published in the Lancet, conducted by researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, sought to identify the extent of the toll that alcohol takes on various economies. In each of the six countries studied, more than one per cent of gross domestic product was spent on costs that could be attributed to the substance.

Other findings included the fact that one in 25 deaths (3.8 per cent) worldwide can be considered to come as a result of alcohol, with injuries, cancer, liver cirrhosis and cardiovascular disease among the main problems. The figure rises to 6.3 per cent in men, while in Europe alone it stood at ten per cent.

"We face a large and increasing alcohol-attributable burden at a time when we know more than ever about which strategies can effectively and cost-effectively control alcohol-related harms," the authors of the report stated.

The Scottish government, meanwhile, has found that alcohol and accidents at work, lost working days, reduced efficiency, early retirement and other issues relating to the substance are costing the country's economy an estimated £766 million per year. That is in addition to the indirect impact alcohol abuse on the NHS (£110.5 million a year), the criminal justice system and emergency services (£276.7 million) and social work (£96.7 million).

Police also point to problems created by drink-driving, as well as factors that are difficult to measure such as alcohol and domestic violence. But despite the perception that society is under threat from a rise in binge drinking culture, the problems may not be as widespread as many think. According to Drinkaware, NHS studies have shown that 57 per cent of men in the 25 to 44 age group do not exceed recommended weekly limits, with the same being said of three-quarters of women of those ages.