Alcoholism is a chronic disease that develops as a result of regular and long-term abuse of alcoholic beverages with the formation of mental and then physical dependence on them. In a biological sense, alcoholism is an incurable disease. This means that there is no medical remedy that would restore the patient's ability to control alcohol consumption. An alcoholic is doomed either to a progressive deterioration in health and social status, or to complete sobriety.

Alcohol abuse is an extremely pressing problem all over the world, posing a serious threat to the health and social well-being of the population. Alcohol or alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, a psychoactive and toxic substance that can cause addiction. Statistics from the World Health Organization show that about 3.3 million people die every year from the harmful effects of alcohol. More than 75% of these deaths are men. Among young people aged 25 to 39, the number of deaths due to alcohol consumption is about 25%. This figure increases every year, and the age of people suffering from alcoholism decreases. In 2020, Belarus ranked 27th in the world ranking of drinking countries. According to WHO, the average Belarusian, starting from the age of 15, drinks 11.2 liters of alcohol per year. National statistics, focusing on all groups of the population, speak of 9 liters.

There is no safe form of alcohol consumption. Even low levels of alcohol consumption are fraught with certain risks and can cause harm. A dose of alcohol in the body of 0.5 ppm is alcohol intoxication, a level above 3 ppm is considered a real threat to life.

There is a misconception that drinking low-alcohol drinks does not cause significant harm to health. In recent years, especially among young people, so-called beer alcoholism has been gaining momentum. Beer has become a popular drink for many reasons, including its relatively inexpensive price. Many people mistakenly believe that if beer is a low-alcohol drink, then it does not have a significant effect on the body, and therefore is safe. Due to the low concentration of alcohol, it is drunk in larger quantities than vodka or wine. However, beer, like all low-alcohol drinks, is by no means a harmless thing. Alcoholism due to beer consumption develops 3-4 times faster than from strong alcoholic drinks.

Alcohol abuse is associated with a high risk of medical and social problems. First of all, alcoholism has a negative impact on human health. Alcoholic beverages affect absolutely all systems and organs without exception, weaken the immune system, and lead to frequent illnesses.

Recently, causal links have been established between alcohol consumption and the incidence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as the course of HIV/AIDS.

Alcoholism entails unfavorable psychological and social consequences. The main meaning of life for a person with this addiction is to satisfy an irresistible craving for alcohol. As a result of alcohol abuse, the range of interests narrows, labor productivity decreases, and moral, ethical and mental degradation of the individual occurs.

Ultimately, alcoholism leads to early disability, premature aging and a significant reduction in life expectancy by an average of 15-20 years compared to the life expectancy of a non-drinker.

Alcohol abuse causes deterioration of the general health of the country's population and has a negative impact on family relationships. The consequences of such influence include: a decline in material well-being as a result of a decrease in the ability to work of a family member suffering from alcoholism, family breakdown, neurotic state of wives and husbands (in 70%); deep neurosis of family members, which can only be relieved by medical intervention (50%); the birth of unhealthy offspring; psychopathization and developmental delays in children; children whose parents suffer from alcoholism ending up in antisocial youth groups; the phenomenon of alcoholism infecting the immediate environment (one alcoholic "infects" 5-7 people with alcoholism during his or her lifetime).

When intoxicated, a person loses control over himself, which can lead to injuries at home and at work, accidents, and mishaps.

The consequences of alcohol abuse also include an impact on crime rates – 25% of illegal actions (theft, robbery, particularly serious crimes) are committed while intoxicated.

The fight against drunkenness and alcoholism is an important area of ​​state policy in the Republic of Belarus. Belarus has the State Program "Public Health and Demographic Security" for 2021-2025, which includes subprogram 3 "Prevention of Drunkenness and Alcoholism, Protection of Mental Health", which regulates the prevention of alcoholism and the fight against it. The expected results of this program are: reduction of alcohol consumption to 9.8 liters per capita per year; reduction of mortality from alcoholism; increase in the coverage of rehabilitated persons (up to 10%); reduction of mortality from suicides.

Alcoholism is a serious problem that has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of a person and society. In our country, a number of measures are being taken to help prevent drunkenness and alcoholism - providing accessible treatment programs, regular information campaigns in the media, regulating the availability of alcohol to various categories of citizens, etc. However, only a conscious refusal of alcohol will help maintain your own health and the health of the nation. Sobriety is the key to health and longevity. Our health is in our hands.