“Alcohol affects men and women differently, giving rise to unique gender-based vulnerabilities. For CARD 2019, the theme was Women and Alcohol. IF YOU DRINK ALCOHOL – DRINK LESS. IF YOU DON’T DRINK – DON’T START.

The harmful use of alcohol, along with tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, is recognised as one of four major common risk factors for NCDs; yet alcohol has received comparatively less attention than the other 3 risk factors. Alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally and harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10 percent of all deaths in this age group. Alcohol and its over use, contributes to a number of cancers, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, violence, accidents and injuries. A major global study published in the Lancet in 2018 concluded that ‘alcohol is a colossal global health issue’ and there is ‘no safe level of alcohol consumption’.

CARD 2019 focused on women and alcohol and the unique public health and NCD-related concerns linked to alcohol consumption among women. Alcohol use not only increases a woman’s risk of liver and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and assault, but consumption of alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature deliveries, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.”

Find more from Healthy Caribbean Coalition (2019)