Alcohol and the Sustainable Development Goals
Summary
The inclusion of a focus on alcohol consumption within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) illustrates the increased diversity of the new global development agenda. Recognition of alcohol as a development issue reflects its multiple social and economic impacts as well as the 3·3 million annual deaths, or 5·9% of all global deaths, that result from its consumption. SDG 3.5 aims to “strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol”.
Excerpt
This strategic use of the SDGs could amplify concerns that the goals fail to adequately address producers of alcohol and other unhealthy commodities as commercial determinants of ill health.6, 7 While acknowledging such concerns, we also want to highlight the potential of the SDGs to transform the development of alcohol policy across many national contexts and within global health governance.”
