Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity
New edition

Seven years after the original publication of the book that has come to be regarded by many in the public health community as the standard manual for alcohol policy interventions at the local, national and international levels, an international group of alcohol experts has just published a revised and expanded edition of Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity - Research and Public Policy.

The 15 alcohol scientists who compiled the book’s findings represent the world’s leading authorities on how evidence informed alcohol policy can better serve the public good by reducing the burden of disease and disability caused by the misuse of beverage alcohol.

The second edition of the book was officially launched in July at a meeting at the Royal College of Physicians, sponsored by the Society for the Study of Addiction.

According to lead author Professor Thomas Babor from the United States, alcohol is one of the most prominent causes of health problems in the European Union, accounting for more death and disability than tobacco, obesity, high blood pressure, illicit drugs and a variety of other health risk factors. In England, it is estimated that 10 million adults drink above safe limits. Alcoholrelated admissions in the UK between 2004 and 2009 increased from 644,000 to 945,000, and liver disease deaths have increased by 12% in the last three years.

Babor argues that two things need to happen to reduce alcohol’s adverse impact, both locally and globally. “First, we need to recognize that alcohol is no ordinary commodity. Second, we need to look at effective alcohol policies supported by scientific evidence. Our book reviews the scientific literature on 42 strategies and interventions used around the world to prevent alcohol problems,” he said.

“Interventions with the most empirical support include alcohol taxes, drunk driving laws, age restrictions on alcohol purchases, and limits on the physical availability of alcohol.”

In the revised version of the book, the global alcohol industry is singled out for its role in promoting alcohol availability in developing countries and its aggressive marketing tactics targeting young adults throughout the world. According to co-author Professor Sally Casswell from New Zealand, “The major players in the alcohol industry consistently oppose effective policies, and then take credit for supporting ineffective policies like voluntary selfregulation of advertising and alcohol education programs.”

Alcohol No Ordinary Commodity
research and public policy, second edition
Babor, T et al 2010
Oxford University Press ISBN - 978-0-19-955114-9