Economics and Alcohol: Consumption and Controls

During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, general levels of alcohol consumption had risen considerably in all parts of the world. In association with this, there was a proliferation of alcohol-related problems such as liver disease, drunkenness offences, marital disharmony and employment difficulties. Many factors influence the probability of alcohol addiction and the habits of drinking; they include age, sex, race, occupation and income.

Economic aspects of the use and misuse of alcohol had been a...