Alcohol problems and responses: challenges for Africa

Abstract

Despite important variations, commonalties exist between most African countries. Prominent among these are colonial experiences and current economic difficulties. While the use and type of alcohol differ from country to country, evidence exists for an increasing level of consumption across most of the continent. However, information about consumption trends and the extent of patterns of alcohol-related harm is still sparse. Official statistics are largely unreliable and research is poorly supported. Response to alcohol problems is consequently weak and not informed by strong data. The challenge to the continent is to strengthen information gathering, including alcohol research, devise culturally sensitive policies that would reduce overall consumption of alcohol, and emphasize the need for early detection, at the primary care level, of problem drinking.