Editorial

Alcohol: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Authors: Ronald C. Hamdy, MD, Melissa McManama Aukerman, MS

Abstract

Alcoholic beverages play an important role in modern Western society. In addition to their effects on health, they have profound socioeconomic implications. In 1999, approximately $116 billion was spent by consumers in the United States on alcoholic drinks.1Absenteeism and decreased productivity due to hangovers cost businesses and employers $148 billion annually.2 In addition, various epidemiologic studies document that approximately half of the population between 12 and 20 years of age, slightly more than half of the population over the age of 21,1 and as many as 79% of adults over the age of 65 consume alcohol on a regular basis.3

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