The campaign “El alcohol daña a quienes más amas” (Alcohol harms those you love the most) sheds light on the profound impact alcohol consumption has on individuals and society in Mexico, emphasizing its role in interpersonal and domestic violence. Supported by data from the 2016 National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (ENDIREH), the campaign highlights that 21.3% of married women identify alcohol consumption as a factor that initiated or worsened partner violence. Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption by men is statistically linked to higher rates of physical and sexual violence against partners. The campaign calls for urgent national alcohol policies to address these issues and mitigate the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol consumption in Mexico leads to significant health and social consequences, including diseases such as heart conditions and cancer, accidents, domestic abuse, and broader societal challenges like poverty and productivity loss. Alarmingly, nearly 39,000 deaths annually are attributed to alcohol consumption, with 40% of adults and 13% of adolescents consuming alcohol excessively. The normalization of alcohol in society, coupled with the rapid increase in sales outlets, affordable prices, and widespread advertising, exacerbates these issues. Evidence-based strategies such as increasing alcohol prices, reducing availability, and regulating advertising, as recommended by the World Health Organization, have proven effective in reducing alcohol-related harm in other countries.

La Red de Acción sobre Alcohol (RASA), a coalition of civil society organizations in Mexico, advocates for robust public policies to control alcohol consumption and its societal impacts. The coalition emphasizes the importance of implementing WHO-recommended measures, such as restricting sales hours, regulating licensing, and adopting pricing strategies, to reduce consumption and promote public health. Through awareness campaigns, RASA seeks to challenge the normalization of alcohol, address the inequities arising from its commercialization, and reduce its role in triggering violence and social imbalance. By fostering dialogue and evidence-based policymaking, RASA aims to safeguard the health and well-being of the Mexican population.

Find more https://accionsobrealcohol.org/ (Mexico, 2024)