Legislative control of alcohol use: Is it an unmet need of public health policy? Recommendations for India and other developing nations

Abstract

Background: Even though prevalence of alcohol use in the world is very high, it has not been brought under legal control contrary to other substances like opium, cocaine, cannabis, etc.

Aim: To demonstrate similarities in both alcohol and opioid dependence by comparing and contrasting the course of clinical dependence and arguing for similar legal controls for alcohol as is present for opioids.

Conclusion: This study recommends alcohol to be treated at par with opioids and calls for legislations for the control of alcohol uniformly across the world, as a public health policy, on the lines of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.

• Policy
• legislation
• public health
• alcohol
• opioids