Overall, trends in alcohol consumption, alcohol’s contribution to the global burden of disease, and progress toward global targets are all pointing the wrong direction. 

Alcohol remains one of the leading risk factors contributing to the global burden of disease. It is the eighth leading preventable risk factor of disease. The contribution of alcohol to the global disease burden has been increasing from 2.6% of DALYs* in 1990 to 3.7% of DALYs in 2019.

In low- and middle-income countries alcohol is the fourth fastest-rising risk factor for the global disease burden.

Alcohol is the second largest risk factor for disease burden in the age group 10-24 years. Alcohol is the largest risk factor for disease burden in the group 25-49 years.

Modeling forecasts that global targets to reduce alcohol use and harm will not be met.

Lack of progress and failure to implement high-impact alcohol policy solutions

Evidence shows that alcohol policy development has been ineffective over the past decade. With a few notable exceptions, most countries have failed to develop public health-oriented alcohol policy solutions in the last decade.

1. Without action, Africa could see an increase in both the absolute number and proportion of people consuming alcohol, the amount consumed per capita and heavy episodic alcohol use.
2. Southeast Asia has seen a 29% increase in per capita alcohol use since 2010.
3. Out of 51 countries in the WHO European Region, only 16 reached the target of a 10% reduction of overall alcohol consumption between 2010-19. But 17 countries saw increases in alcohol use. Almost no progress was achieved since 2016 in the implementation of Best Buys alcohol policy solutions.
4. Alcohol remains highly affordable in the WHO Americas region. Between 2012-16, per capita consumption among alcohol users only increased, with 1 in 5 alcohol users consuming heavily.

• Progress in the formulation and implementation of national and local alcohol policy solutions has been insufficient.
• Most countries, especially low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), have NOT implemented a comprehensive set of alcohol policies.
• No low-income country has reported increasing resources for implementing alcohol policy in the last decade.
• Many countries are failing to implement the alcohol policy best buy solutions, with LMICs more likely to have fewer evidence-based and cost-effective policies.

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