Editorial

Recognition that the world is facing an alcoholepidemic affecting every continent is evidenced from the WHO Global Burden of Disease. Globally alcohol causes 3.2 per cent of death and 4 per cent of ill health and disability. Thomas Babor comments: ‘No other product so widely available for consumer use, not even tobacco, accounts for as much disability as alcohol.

Evidence of growing international concern among social and health circles is seen by the decision of the WHO Executive Board to place a resolution regarding the public health problems caused by the harmful use of alcohol on the agenda of this year’s World Health Assembly (see page 21).

Whilst the resolution fails to explicitly address the marketing strategies of the global alcohol industry that has contributed to the explosion in binge drinking, it does call upon the Director General to produce a report on evidence based strategies to reduce alcohol related harm.

This international concern is mirrored by the American Medical Association in placing on the agenda of the World Medical Association’s Socio-Medical Affairs Committee in France a similar resolution to reduce the global impact of alcohol on health and society (see page 22).

Alcohol has become the leading risk factor in the disease burden of the Western Pacific.

Pacific islanders who a generation ago had little drinking and few problems have not escaped the epidemic. Alcohol certainly reaches all parts of the globe and no part remains immune from the problems associated with intoxication and dependence. This issue of the Globe gives coverage to governmental and non-governmental conferences of Pacific island people concerned about the growing alcohol epidemic from which they have not remained immune.

Derek Rutherford