NCJ Number
127520
Date Published
1990
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Based on a World Health Organization consultation aimed at assessing the implications of alcohol consumption for public revenue, public expenditure, and public health, this report compares various European countries and various national policies regarding alcohol.
Abstract
Following a discussion of consumer behavior, the association between drinking and alcohol-related problems, and the nature of alcohol-related costs, the paper examines the economic importance of alcohol in terms of consumption, trade, and employment. The data suggest that, though the production of alcoholic beverages does not constitute a major source of employment or foreign trade in any of the European countries, in some countries expenditures on alcohol do constitute a high proportion of consumer spending. Revenue from alcohol taxation is described, and the public costs of alcohol-related problems in seven countries are detailed. 5 tables and 8 references