ABSTRACT
The use of beverage alcohol is part of the Mexican culture, as it is an important means of social integration, but at the same time it is associated with adverse health and social consequences. Alcohol abuse is the biggest single risk factor for health, accounting for 9 percent of the burden of disease in Mexico from both acute and chronic conditions (Frenk et al., 1994), a high proportion of that figure being explained by the way alcohol is consumed. Public health interventions to control this problem yield a high level of return on investments, thus ranking high as a priority from the cost-benefit viewpoint. 1
