Mapping the Social Consequences of Alcohol Consumption

by Klingemann, Harald; Gmel, Gerhard; World Health Organization

• ISBN13: 9780792367406
• ISBN10: 0792367405
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	ix
Introduction: Social consequences of alcohol - the forgotten dimension?	1	(10)
H. Klingemann
G. Gmel
Concepts, dimensions and measures of alcohol-related social consequences - A basic framework for alcohol-related benefits and harm	11	(10)
J. Rehm
Measurement issues	15	(3)
References	18	(3)
What is meant by 'alcohol-related' consequences?	21	(12)
K. Pernanen
Alcohol-relatedness: coincidence, common etiology and causality	21	(1)
Social-science and natural-science processes and consequences	22	(2)
Establishing a causal relationship	24	(1)
An alcohol-free society	25	(2)
Determining social consequences	27	(1)
Multiple causal determination	28	(3)
References	31	(2)
Alcohol consumption and social harm: quantitative research methodology	33	(20)
G. Gmel
E. Gutjahr
Assessment of outcome	34	(6)
Assessment of exposure	40	(1)
Covariates: confounding and control variables	41	(1)
Study design	42	(2)
Some less-known designs for investigation of alcohol-related social harm	44	(3)
Conclusions	47	(1)
References	48	(5)
Consequences of drinking to friends and the close social environment	53	(14)
K. Pernanen
Friends, social environment	53	(9)
Concluding remarks	62	(1)
References	63	(4)
The impact of alcohol consumption on work and education	67	(12)
J. Rehm
I. Rossow
Work	67	(1)
Alcohol and absenteeism	68	(2)
Alcohol-related work problems other than absenteeism	70	(1)
Interaction of alcohol consumption with other factors	70	(1)
Drinking patterns associated with workplace problems	71	(1)
Education	71	(3)
References	74	(5)
Problem drinking and relatives	79	(14)
E. Maffli
Introduction	79	(1)
Consequences for children	80	(4)
Consequences for the spouse/partner	84	(2)
Conclusion	86	(2)
References	88	(5)
Accidents, suicide and violence	93	(20)
I. Rossow
K. Pernanen
J. Rehm
Introduction	93	(1)
Alcohol and external trauma	94	(1)
Alcohol and accidents	95	(3)
Suicide and parasuicide	98	(2)
Alcohol and violence	100	(4)
Disability and mortality	104	(1)
Summary and implications	105	(2)
References	107	(6)
Public order and safety	113	(20)
H. Klingemann
The role of alcohol in crime: police and the criminal justice system as guardians of 'the public order'	114	(1)
Compulsory treatment and 'danger to the public': treatment and criminal justice cooperating in the interests of the public order	115	(2)
The impact of alcohol consumption on the physical and social environment, and communal/municipal authorities as representatives of the public order	117	(2)
Alcohol consumption as part of deviant life-styles? Skid rows and the homeless: welfare agencies, social work and neighbourhoods with vested interests in public order	119	(1)
Drinking and occupational careers: conflicts at the work-site and discrimination in the labour market	120	(1)
Public order and cultural aspects: social climate and level of tolerance	121	(3)
Symbolic public display and potential offence to onlookers of alcohol as a commodity: moral crusaders defending the public order or controlling the poor?	124	(1)
Drinking and alcohol in youth subcultures: youth and alcohol in conflict with the dominant culture (controlling youth)	125	(1)
Hooliganism - 'episodic' antisocial, delinquent behaviour: social workers, politicians and the public as guardians of 'the public order'	126	(1)
Concluding remarks: implications for policy makers	127	(2)
References	129	(4)
The social costs of alcohol consumption	133	(12)
E. Gutjahr
G. Gmel
What constitutes social costs and how they are estimated	133	(2)
Recent European and non-European cost estimates	135	(5)
Policy implications	140	(2)
References	142	(3)
Harm minimization	145	(16)
M. Plant
Introduction: What is 'harm minimization'?	145	(2)
Education	147	(1)
Community action	148	(3)
Safer drinking places	151	(1)
Labelling to warn and inform	152	(2)
Treatment	154	(1)
Sustainability	154	(1)
Structural control policies	155	(1)
Conclusion	156	(1)
References	157	(4)
Community initiatives as strategies for implementation of the European Alcohol Action Plan	161	(1)
M. Holmila
Introduction	161	(3)
Examples of reported European projects	164	(1)
The Lahti project	164	(1)
The Florence Community Alcohol Research project	165	(1)
The Kirseberg project	165	(1)
The Malczyce Community Action project in Poland	165	(1)
The Stad project in Stockholm, Sweden	165	(1)
Lessons learned	166	(2)
References	168