Publisher's Synopsis
INTRODUCTION Alcohol has been prevalent across all societies and affects people of all walks of life. The pattern of alcohol use varies on age, religion, education, type of drink, socio-demographic characteristics, cultures, societies, and community. Due to this severe public health and safety problems arise. This leads to devastating social, economic, physical, mental and spiritual consequences. It is also associated with a sizeable percentage of deaths caused by accidents, murders, suicides, loss of productivity, damage to property and the emotional abuse of women and children. Furthermore, it causes widespread absenteeism, inefficiency, and accidents in the workplace. These, in turn, do a cascade effect on healthy socio-economic growth of families, communities, and nation. Countries which had low alcohol consumption levels are now witnessing an increasing consumption pattern. The use of alcohol has increased phenomenally in India during the last two decades. Alcohol has now become a common word in Indian society due to the impact of globalization, urbanization, industrialization, changing lifestyles, easy availability of alcohol, liberalized values of society, aggressive marketing strategies etc. It has entered into the lives of Indians in a big and unrestricted manner. Alcohol consumption is not detrimental to health but it is also associated with impoverishment and adverse socioeconomic impact. 1.1 World Scenario on alcohol addiction WHO (2018) reported a comprehensive picture of alcohol consumption and the disease burden attributable to alcohol worldwide,
