Preventing alcohol abuse

Preventing alcoholism

Implementation

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of people from all walks of life who meet together to attain and maintain sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. In 1990 there were over 96,000 AA groups registered in more than 130 countries and membership was estimated at over 2 million. There are no membership fees, and donations are not accepted from non-members. AA is a programme of total abstinence. Members simply stay away from one drink, one day at a time. Sobriety is maintained through sharing experience, strength and hope at group meetings and through the suggested Twelve Steps for recovery from Alcoholism. The AA approach views alcoholism as a disease, rather like an allergy, that can never be 'cured' but can be arrested. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of AA. It disciplines the Fellowship to govern itself by principles rather than personalities.

Claim

Moderate alcohol consumption of 10 to 30 g/day in men (1 to 3 glasses of wine per day) may have a protective effect on the cardio-vascular system. This protective effect disappears in heavy drinkers or those who have episodic drunkenness. Nevertheless, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased mortality from cerebral haemorrhage and hypertension.