The facts we all should know

FACT #28
Did you know liver disease deaths are largely determined by population alcohol consumption?
Cultural and historical changes in alcohol consumption patterns have a large impact on liver mortality, with a four-fold reduction in France and Italy seen in a period of decreased consumption of cheap wine. Marked increases in liver mortality have also been associated with modest increases in overall alcohol consumption, as seen in the UK with the move to drinking stronger alcohol at home. Effective policies to reduce alcohol consumption may reduce liver mortality quickly, as patients with alcohol-related liver disease usually die from acute-on-chronic liver failure driven by recent excessive alcohol consumption.
Show me the science
Burton R, Henn C, Lavoie D, et al. A rapid evidence review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alcohol control policies: an English perspective. Lancet 2017; 389: 1558–80.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)32420-5/fulltext
WHO. European action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol 2012–2020. 2012.
https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/178163/E96726.pdf
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Preventing harmful alcohol use. May 19, 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1787/6e4b4ffb-en