ABSTRACT
The guiding principle of a public health perspective is that alcohol problems emerge from the interaction of alcohol, drinkers and the physical and social environments. It is important, therefore, to clarify the nature and range of alcohol problems that are of interest to a public health perspective. A public health perspective adds to the relativity of what constitutes an alcohol problem by recognising the situational nature and origins of many alcohol problems. A public health perspective looks to a combination of legislative, social and environmental, price and fiscal measures for controlling alcohol problems and promoting moderate drinking practices. The State’s industrial and commercial interests operate at a number of levels. In those countries, particularly western capitalist countries, where the State has guaranteed to protect the economic freedom of the alcohol producer, distributor and consumer, it is common to find these interests conflicting with the State’s interests in social welfare, public health and social order.
