Massive alcohol costs burdening Dutch society
The harm resulting from alcohol use in the Netherlands burden society with €2.3 to €2.9 billion every year, according to findings from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
Alcohol harm
Major contributions to the staggering sum of societal costs come from
- Loss work productivity,
- Premature deaths,
- Traffic accidents,
- Costs to the police and justice system costs,
- Health care costs
- Reduced quality of life due to alcohol related diseases
- School drop-outs and the negative consequences.
These are the findings of research conducted by RIVM. Per capita consumption of alcohol is high in the Netherlands with 9.9 liters of pure alcohol, per year, per adult – according to the WHO Global Status Report 2014.
What works to reduce the burden and costs
For the research RIVM use the Social Cost-Benefit approach (SCBA) to analyse regulatory policies to reduce alcohol use and express benefits in monetary terms. Research was conducted in to the social cost-benefits of three policy measures:
- Further increase of excise taxes,
- Reduction of the number of points of sale and
- A total ban of advertisements.