United Nations urges governments to curb harmful alcohol use. With more deaths occurring globally each year from conditions related to alcohol consumption than all that are caused by HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments to save lives through increased preventive measures. According to the organization’s "Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health," an estimated 2.5 million people succumb to alcohol-related fatalities annually, with this damaging substance being the catalyst if not the direct cause of 60 different types of disease and other unfortunate incidents, including cirrhosis of the liver, epilepsy, poisonings, road traffic accidents, violence and several cancers. Preventive policies include taxing alcohol to reduce drinking, decreasing available outlets, and enforcing measures to prevent underage drinking and driving. Dr. Shekhar Saxena, Director of WHO’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Department, said, “Alcohol now is the third leading factor for risk to health and is a major contributor to deaths and disability.”

Our thanks, Dr. Saxena and World Health Organization, for encouraging governments to care for fellow citizens by removing the harms of alcohol consumption. We look forward to the day that our world is alcohol-free for the health, safety and happiness of individuals and families everywhere.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2144399&Language=en
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37515&Cr=alcohol&Cr1= 
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=863845 http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/unifeed/d/16988.html