Social Impact of Abusive Alcohol Consumption in Spain. Consumption, Cost and Policies

Abstract

Although it has declined in recent decades, alcohol consumption in Spain is still high compared with other European countries. The consumption pattern shows a converging trend with Europe, with a decrease in consumption of wine and an increase in the consumption of beer. Likewise, mortality related to alcohol consumption has also declined in the last twenty years, but remains a major cause of death. The direct healthcare costs and indirect costs of diseases totally and partially attributable to alcohol consumption in 2007 was 2669.74 million. The effective tax regime in Spain gravel alcohol very little, so a substantial increase, in line with some European countries, could be an option to be considered for accelerating the reduction of the burden of morbidity and mortality associated with alcohol consumption.