Case example 4: India

“In a 1997 study comparing two groups of families within the same community in Delhi, India (Group A having at least one adult consuming alcoholic drinks at least three times per week in the last month and Group B having no adult consuming more than one drink in the last month), it was found that Group A, on an average, spent almost 14 times more on alcohol per month compared with Group B. A larger proportion of families in Group A had significant debt compared with Group B. The implications of this are towards fewer financial resources for food and education of children and fewer resources for purchasing daily living consumables. The more heavily drinking Group A was more likely to report major illnesses or injuries during the past one year and was more likely to require medical treatment.

Source: Saxena, Sharma & Maulik (2003)”

Source & © WHO  Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004, p.62