*This story has been updated on December 4, 2019 in line the release of an upgraded booklet, now comprising 14 adversely affected SDGs.
New IOGT International booklet (pdf, updated version) released: Alcohol and the Sustainable Development Goals – Major obstacle to development. Alcohol is an obstacle to achieving 12 out of 17 SDGs.
Alcohol obstacle to development
Alcohol is a major obstacle to sustainable human development. Alcohol kills 3.3 million people worldwide every year. It means: Every 10 seconds a human being dies because of alcohol.
This represents 5.9 % of all deaths.
Through its multiple public health, social and economic impacts, alcohol is an obstacle to achieving 12 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Agenda2030 and alcohol
The Agenda2030 addresses alcohol’s role as obstacle to development. Under SDG 3 on health and well-being, target 3.5 addresses alcohol in stipulating to
strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”
12 out of 17 SDGs impacted
Evidence shows that alcohol is a cross-cutting, harmful factor in many areas of the Agenda 2030, such as:
The new booklet is timely as the United Nations gathers for the High-Level Political Forum on SDGs (HLPF) in New York, to discuss progress on the Agenda 2030, after its adoption in September 2015. Discussions are held under the 2016 theme: Leave no one behind.
Booklet (updated version 2017): Alcohol & the SDGs - Obstacle to Development
