Alcohol is one of the most important risk factors for premature mortality and disability. Premature mortality disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (WHO 2011a); more than 85 percent of all deaths attributable to alcohol occur in these nations (Room and others 2013; WHO 2011a). This chapter updates the chapter on alcohol in Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd ed. (DCP2) (Rehm and others 2006), with new scientific evidence for interventions based on population, community, and individuals, with an emphasis on evidence from LMICs.
Alcoholic beverages vary with respect to their raw material, method of production, alcohol content, and presentation. Beverages are usually classified as fermented or distilled. In addition to the alcohol that appears in official statistics, many countries have a substantial amount of unrecorded alcohol, which may include illegally produced or smuggled alcohol products, but also surrogate alcohol (nonbeverage alcohol not officially intended for human consumption) and legal but unrecorded alcohol products (Lachenmeier, Sarash, and Rehm 2009).
© 2016 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank.