The extent of harm caused to people due to use of alcohol in Sri Lanka and in the world

What is it about?

This is an easy-to-read review of available scientifically verified information on the extent of harm from alcohol use. The article also briefly covers the chemical properties of alcohol, short term effects seen in the person who drinks alcohol, long term health effects, including so-called benefits, on the person who drinks alcohol for long periods of time and types of alcohol use including how a particular pattern of use may be labelled according to current psychiatric classifications. A method to quantify alcohol use in Sri Lanka and in other countries, per capita alcohol use, is introduced and explained in this paper. A review of data on the overall health harm to the people of the whole world and of Sri Lanka is reviewed in the next section. This section also summarises health and economic costs of alcohol use. The author also reflects on his clinical experience as a psychiatrist and points out certain harms due to alcohol use that cannot be quantified using the technical statistics given in this paper. Finally, the author urges the reader to look at alcohol, alcohol use and the alcohol industry in a more scientific unbiased way in order to achieve a future with less harm due to alcohol use.

Featured Image

Photo by Ian Valerio on Unsplash

Photo by Ian Valerio on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This paper summarises multiple aspects of alcohol, its use and harms caused. It also brings many important current alcohol-related data, especially for Sri Lanka, together in one paper. This paper puts the debate over the so-called health benefits due to alcohol use in perspective. The author points out that although alcohol use tends to lower the chance of having a heart attack, it clearly shortens life even if used at the rate of just one drink a day. The health cost in the form of loss of life and loss of health, the economic cost due to loss of productivity and expenses on healthcare are calculated, reviewed and compared to costs of tobacco use. The accuracy of certain widely used data related to alcohol use in Sri Lanka is questioned giving reasons.

Perspectives