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    Home > Resource hub > The value of primary prevention to reduce alcohol consumption

The value of primary prevention to reduce alcohol consumption

Prevention strategies that target the problem of alcohol consumption in Australia have health, social and economic benefits for governments, businesses, communities and individuals.
  • The value of primary prevention to reduce alcohol consumption

    Evidence brief

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  • The value of primary prevention to reduce alcohol consumption

    Literature review

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This report found that alcohol use contributes significantly to Australia’s health burden (burden of disease) as well as contributing billions of dollars each year in terms of healthcare and non-healthcare economic costs. This research was commissioned by Cancer Institute NSW and NSW Health.

Key reasons to reduce alcohol consumption

  • In Australia, alcohol use is the fifth highest modifiable risk factor causing preventable health burden after tobacco use, overweight including obesity, all dietary risks and high blood pressure.
  • More than 4% of all deaths in Australia were attributable to alcohol in 2018 (6,512 deaths in total).
  • Alcohol use contributes significantly to Australia’s health burden as well as contributing billions of dollars each year in health care and non-healthcare economic costs.
  • Globally, it is estimated three million deaths per year and 5.1% of the global burden of disease are caused by the harmful use of alcohol.
  • Alcohol is a known carcinogen for humans and causes many types of cancers including liver cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, lip and oral cavity cancer, other oral cavity and pharynx cancers, laryngeal cancer, oesophageal cancer, bowel cancer and breast cancer.
  • In Australia over the next decade, it is projected that 15,000 cancers will be attributable to consumption of more than two alcohol drinks per day.
  • The other main causes of alcohol-related health burden are injuries, alcohol use disorder, road traffic injuries for cyclists, drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
  • Most of the available evidence indicates that the more effective interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms are comprehensive, multi-component strategies, targeting alcohol supply and use, and targeting populations and individuals.

Benefits to addressing and preventing alcohol use and harms

Physical health benefits

Improved

  • Body weight or BMI
  • Health knowledge and attitudes

Reduced

  • Cancer risk
  • Chronic disease risk
  • Problematic alcohol use and binge drinking
  • Injuries and hospital presentations
  • Motor vehicle injuries
  • Prevalence of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
  • Liver cancer
  • Head, lip and neck cancers
  • Oesophageal cancer
  • Bowel cancer
  • Breast cancer

Mental health benefits

Improved

  • Mental and psychological wellbeing
  • Self-esteem
  • Cognitive function
  • Quality of life

Reduced

  • Mental health conditions (e.g. depression and anxiety)
  • Stress
  • Psychological distress
  • Substance misuse
  • Self harm and suicide

Social benefits

Improved

  • Health and social equity
  • Safety and amenity
  • School attendance
  • Social participation
  • Employment

Reduced

  • Traffic accidents and drink driving
  • Assaults, violence and anti-social behaviour
  • Family and domestic violence

Economic benefits

Improved

  • Sustainable healthcare system
  • Productivity
  • Attendance at work
  • Productive years in the workforce

Reduced

  • Hospitalisations
  • Absenteeism
  • Income due to disease and premature death

Associated content

  • The value of partnership research to reduce harm from alcohol use

    Resource category: Podcasts Podcasts
    Date 09 May 2022
Details

DATE 11 May 2022

TYPE Evidence Reviews

Prevention experts

  • Paul Crosland Paul Crosland has finished working with the Prevention Centre.

    The University of Sydney
    Headshot of Paul Crosland
  • Dr Elly Howse

    The University of Sydney
    Headshot of Elly Howse
  • Maddie Heenan

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Madeline Heenan
  • Mary Rose Angeles Mary Rose Angeles has finished working with the Prevention Centre.

    Deakin University, Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation
    Headshot of Mary Rose Angeles
  • Professor Lucie Rychetnik

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Lucie Rychetnik
  • Siti Khadijah binti Mohamad Asfia

  • Sithara Wanni Arachchige Dona

  • Rachel West

Topics

  • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs ,

Prevention methodologies

  • Making the case for prevention ,

Related publications

The economic cost of preventable disease in Australia: a systematic review of estimates and methods

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre: systems thinking to prevent lifestyle-related chronic illness

Related resources

  • The value of prevention: a rapid review

    Resource category: Evidence Reviews Evidence Reviews
    Date 04 Jun 2021
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More resources

  • Emerging Leaders Network: Equity and ethics in public health

    Resource category: Videos Videos
    Date 26 Sep 2023
  • The value of prevention: Symposium workshop

    Resource category: Videos Videos
    Date 06 Sep 2023
  • Into the next generation: Future ways of working together in prevention

    Resource category: Videos Videos
    Date 06 Sep 2023

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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Funding Partners

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre is funded by the NHMRC, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT Health, Cancer Council Australia, NSW Ministry of Health, Wellbeing SA, Tasmanian Department of Health, and VicHealth. The Australian Government also contributed through the Medical Research Future Fund. Queensland Health became a financial contributor in 2022. The Prevention Centre is administered by the Sax Institute.

©2023 The Sax Institute.

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