Alcohol’s deleterious effects ripple through families, hospitals and public finances. Beyond cirrhosis or injuries, chronic use erodes quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)—healthy time lived free of disability.
The burden
- Health: Hypertension, cancers, liver disease, and depression rise with harmful use.
- Social: Increased domestic conflict, absenteeism, and road incidents.
- Economic: Productivity losses and higher hospitalisation bills strain households and the exchequer.
What works
- Brief interventions: Screening in primary care coupled with counselling.
- Taxation & pricing: Discourage binge patterns while ring-fencing revenue for treatment.
- Availability controls: Hours, density of outlets, and age checks.
- Public messaging: Move from stigma to science-based risk awareness.
Reducing harmful use can markedly improve QALYs — adding life to years, not just years to life.