ABSTRACT
This book does not pretend to make life easy for the policy-maker. It has highlighted the complexity of drinking: Alcohol can be enjoyed as well as misused, and can benefit as much as harm those who consume it. The duality of its nature makes alcohol unlike many other commodities and plays an important role in why people drink and in the outcomes they are likely to experience. Patterns of drinking shape both benefit and harm: Where people drink, what, how, when, how often, and with whom are all important influences. At the same time, drinking is much like many other behaviors-driving, skiing, sailing, riding, and even eating-because it is learned, it can be accompanied by responsible choices, and the potential for harm is preventable.
