ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book illustrates the contemporary challenges of alcohol policymaking. It offers an overview of the problems associated with alcohol misuse, and outlines global trends in consumption and the types of mitigation strategies currently employed around the world. The book describes key policymaking theories that political scientists and other policymaking scholars have advanced and explores whether these theories offer insight into alcohol policymaking. It discusses the historical, social, and cultural factors that can shape drinking patterns and affect the emergence of alcohol's social harms. The book looks at case studies of policy ideas in two different countries which aimed to reduce harmful drinking in general without instituting prohibition. Recognizing this-and warning that alcohol contributes to at least 2.5 million global deaths per year-the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010 unveiled its Global Strategy to target harmful alcohol consumption.
