The Economics of Addictive Behaviours Volume II - The Private and Social Costs of the Abuse of Alcohol and Their Remedies

This title discusses the phenomenon of alcohol abuse as a behavioural disease and the associated costs. The author details alcohol's status as a psychoactive drug; he notes, however, that in contrast to other psychoactive drugs, alcohol has been widely culturally accepted in Western countries and legally available, except in isolated incidents for a short period of time. Joshua considers which policies are being correctly utilised so as to reduce the abuse of alcohol, and how these policies may operate on a supply and demand model. Whereas programs of prevention and treatment operate on the demand side of alcohol abuse, legislation is directed at the supply side of alcohol; that is, dealing with marketing - product, promotion, point of sales and price.



This is the second title in a four volume series 'The Economics of Addictive Behaviours', consisting of three additional volumes on smoking, illicit drug abuse and overeating.

Inhaltsverzeichnis:

1. Introduction

2. The Consumption of Alcohol World-Wide

a) The Patterns of the Consumption of Alcohol

b) The World-Wide Risk Factors of Alcohol Abuse

3. The Stages of Alcohol Abuse: From Initiation to Alcohol Dependence
a) Living Conditions and Alcohol Abuse


b) The Pathways from Initiation to Alcohol Dependence

4. The Consequences of Alcohol Abuse

a) The Physiological Effects of Alcohol Abuse
b) The Psycho-Social Effects of Alcohol Abuse


c) The Processes of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

5. The Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Abuse

a) Government Intervention in the Abuse of Alcohol
b) The Effectiveness in the Intervention of the Abuse of Alcohol


c) The Treatment of Alcohol Abuse d) The Prevention and Rehabilitation of Alcohol Abuse

e) Harm Minimization as a Viable Strategy

6. Legal Remedies to Reduce the Abuse of Alcohol

a) Educational Impact on the Reduction of Alcohol Abuse

b) Conditions of Sales: Purchasing Outlets, Number of Locations and Density, and Hours of Opening

c) Price Promotion and Discounts

d) Randomized Breath Testing and Other Means to Prevent Driving Under the Influence

e) Ban of Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages

7. The Market and the Social and Private Costs of Alcohol Abuse

a) International Trade and Public Health

b) The Social and Private Costs of Alcohol Abuse

8. Economic Remedies to Reduce Alcohol Abuse

a) Elasticities and the Demand for Alcohol

b) Taxation Policies to Reduce the Abuse of Alcohol

9. The Politics of Corp orate and Social Responsibilities

a) Corporate Social Responsibilities and Policies

b) Corporate Responsibilities and Social Costs

10. Conclusion