Public Health Challenges Posed by Alcohol-Related Harm

The analysis of alcohol consumption's impact on health reveals a nuanced interplay between its potential benefits and detrimental effects. Moderate consumption may confer certain health advantages, such as reduced risk of heart disease and improved cognitive function in older adults, while excessive use is linked to numerous health issues including liver disease, increased cancer risk, and addiction. Social dynamics significantly influence drinking behaviors, with factors like group settings and emotional states affecting consumption patterns. Additionally, the burden on public health systems due to alcohol-related diseases necessitates a deeper understanding of these dual effects for effective policy-making and prevention strategies.

INVESTIGATION TO
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

ABSTRACT
There is a huge amount of people consuming alcohol and there are various reasons
behind their consumption of alcohol which can be the stress, peer pressure, curiosity factors etc.
Moderate consumption can prove quite beneficial for the heart but excess utilization of it can
prove very harmful and even lead the person to coma or death as well. Consumption of alcohol
can lead the person to a zone where the individual is unable to feel and understand their own
actions. Usually youngsters use it as a way of keeping a mask on their emotions as it takes them
to area where their power of realising and acting gets minimized to an extent. They feel better
and excluded from their sorrows and issues. That is the reason they get addicted. Various
methods can be used for minimizing the overall alcohol consumption, thus helping people in
staying fit and healthy from its severe disorders.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Aim :................................................................................................................................................2
Objectives : .....................................................................................................................................2
Research Hypothesis :......................................................................................................................2
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................3
Alcohol consumption..................................................................................................................3
Reason of increased alcohol consumption..................................................................................4
Controlling measures implemented by UK administration.........................................................5
Impact of alcoholic consumption on human health ...................................................................6
Ways by which alcohol consumption can be reduced................................................................7
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................8
Introduction ................................................................................................................................8
Research Philosophy...................................................................................................................8
Research Design .........................................................................................................................9
Research approach .....................................................................................................................9
Research strategy........................................................................................................................9
Data Collection..........................................................................................................................10
Data Analysis............................................................................................................................10
Ethical Considerations..............................................................................................................10
Sampling...................................................................................................................................11
Research Limitations ...............................................................................................................11
Conclusion and Justification..........................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Alcohol consumption is considered as a leading cause of death and various other social
problems as well. It has a huge impact on the status of the health of an individual. People who
drink are termed as drinkers. They can be the persons who had never drank, who are moderate
ones or the ones who are heavy drinkers. The regular consumption of alcohol can also cause
various cancers such as of renal etc. The utilization of alcohol cannot be termed as a negative
habit of the people, although many people drink only to socialize, relax and celebrate (Keyes,
Hatzenbuehler and Hasin, 2011). The consequences of taking alcohol can term severe as well.
On the first single sip, it enters the bloodstream of the individual. There is a blood alcohol
consumption (BAC) level in the blood flow of a person and it is being maximized by the
consumption of alcohol. Increased BAC levels may let a person act quite weaken and
diminished. Some common symptoms can be decreasing memory powers, breathing issues and it
can even lead to coma or death when taken in much higher levels.
There must be various reasons behind the fact that a huge number of people consume
alcohol. Individuals just fall in these sort of addictions to mask their emotions through which
they are going through. As its consumption takes them to a zone where are they unable to sense
and feel the truth, they feel it as a better way to utilize just to stay away from these issues and
problems. The issues can be related to any common factor such as money, relationships, work
etc. Consuming it might not be that bad as it helps the people in fighting with a disorder, known
as dementia, but when taken in limits. Overdo of it can further cause alcohol dementia as well
which can prove very harmful for the human body.
Alcohol can also provide some small benefits to the heart but too much of it can damage
the heart as well. Some very common and known factors of why people consume alcohol can be
categorised as Peer pressure, Stress, Curiosity etc. There are many people who do not want to
drink but they do because of the people around them are drinking. To not stay as an odd one,
they also consume. This is termed as peer pressure (Samokhvalov and et.al, 2010). In some other
cases, the fellow members also forces the other party to get involved, because of which the odd
one also gets involve in the process and gets addicted. Curiosity is also another factor that people
fall in this habit. Usually the younger children have this curiosity that many people are addicted
to the alcohol consumption, so they also feel that there must be something interesting enough
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that they should also try. This curiosity of them leads to the addiction and thus, causing various
negative effects on their health.
The alcohol consumption can have huge impacts on the different parts of the body. When
a person consumes alcohol, it directly interferes with the communication passages, thus
impacting the way brain works on various things. It further causes mood swings in an individual,
toughens the power of thinking and acting. Drinking too much can cause heart problems as well.
It can cause cardiomyopathy, strokes and higher levels of blood pressure. It also affects on the
liver as it makes it more fatty and can cause Cirrhosis as well (Neafsey and Collins, 2011).
Minimized power of immune system can come as an output of the too much alcohol
consumption. It can cause several cancers as well such as renal cancer has the most possibility
because of the higher levels of alcohol consumption. There can be various methods and
techniques by which the overall consumption of alcohol can be reduced. For people who drink
on a regular basis, it is a quite tough procedure to immediately stop its utilization. So, various
alternatives have been meant for these sort of people. Including some food while having the
drink can help in slow absorption of the alcohol. Intake of similar drinks that tastes quite similar
to that of alcohol can act helpful. Taking the drink in small sips can also be used as it will help
them in enjoying the drink for a longer period of time, thus reducing the quantity of it.
Aim :
To investigate the impact of alcohol consumption on the human health : A study on the
population of UK
Objectives :
 To analyse the controlling measures implemented by the UK administration.
 To examine the reasons of why people consume alcohol.
 To evaluate the negative impact of alcohol consumption on the human health.
 To recommend the ways by which alcohol consumption can be minimized.
Research Hypothesis :
Q1. What are the facts and figures of the people in UK that consumes alcohol?
Q2. What could be the reasons that people consume alcohol ?
Q3. What is the negative effect of alcohol consumption on the human health?
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From the hypothesis, it can be analysed that the common factors that leads people to
consume alcohol can be stress, peer pressure, curiosity etc. These involve people slightly in the
process and the person gets addicted after a period of time. Also, its excess consumption can
cause severe damages to the brain, liver and other parts of the body as well. Utilization of
alcohol can not be considered as bad as its limited consumption can provide some benefits to the
heart. The overall consumption of alcohol should be minimized by people in order to stay fit and
healthy, thus making the immune system more stronger to fight with the diseases. For those, who
are heavy drinkers and take some time to leave it, they can adopt some activities for minimizing
the effects of alcohol in their body till the time they will be able to stop its consumption. They
can consume some food while drinking as it slows down the absorption of alcohol in the blood.
They can also try drinks that tastes quite familiar to the alcohol or some other flavours that can
help them in masking the taste of alcohol. Sticking to these types of drinks for a period of time
can help the addicted people to stay quite away from the alcohol.
Literature Review
Literature review is used for critically analyzing the research work. During this process
information are gathered in the form of secondary data that is already generated by someone
(Bagnardi and et.al., 2015). It will help the researcher in gaining knowledge and developing deep
understanding about the topic. The present research proposal is based on the alcohol
consumption. It will support the researcher in investigating various factors that creates and
maximize consumption of alcohol. Along with this analyzer will be able to determine the impact
of alcohol intake on the life and health of the individuals (Devries and et.al., 2014 ).
Alcohol consumption
The consumption of liquid substance containing ethyl alcohol are referred as alcoholism.
Their intake depends on the physiological and psychological condition of the individual. It is
available into the market in various forms such as wine, beer and spirits. They are present into
wide range of concentration. Some of them are represented, such as 4% to 5% are treated as
burgundy and Chianti. However, 12% to 14% includes rum, vodka and whiskey (Larsson, Drca
and Wolk, 2014). The consumption of alcohol creates direct impact on various body parts
instantly by inhibitions reduction, increases confusion, memory problems, etc. Holmes and
et.al., (2014), stated due to alcoholism rate of car crash and death is gradually increased. After
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drinking alcohol people are not able to control their body and complete their activities
effectively. In this process both male and female are showing their interest. Along with this
teenagers are also highly influenced. They all are causing negative impact on their mental and
physical condition, also influence their growth. On the basis of above discussion different types
of alcohol products are identified (Moodie and et.al., 2013). They vary on the basis of their
concentration and strength. In current scenario, both males and females are influenced towards
this product. It increased death rate due to cancer and car crash.
Reason of increased alcohol consumption
According to the Prabhu, Obi and Rubenstein, (2014), reason of alcohol disorder is still
not identified. People of different age groups are consuming chemical and get addicted with that.
On the basis of various research different factors are identified that creates such disorder, some
of them are like genetic alcoholism, alcoholic parents and family background, psychological
reasons, depression, etc. Individuals of different age group are facing these several challenges
due to this.
Reas and et.al., (2016), stated that lifestyle of the individual is playing significant role in
increasing consumption rate. Gradually increasing pressures and tenson maximising the stress
and negatively influence their psychological behaviour. In order to overcome those problems
people get attracted towards alcohol and get addicted. An individual consider such elements in
order to release their anxiety, depression. The majority of the people are taking support of
alcohol in order to overcome their depression and release stress.
However, as per the view of Stockwell and et.al., (2016), culture and family background
also motivated individual in order to consume alcohol. There are various researches conducted,
for analyzing alcoholism is hereditary or not. While conducting investigation it is analyzed that
due to having similar genetic structure there are 50% chances that children of alcoholic become
alcoholic. Along with this family background of the family also encourages them. According to
the White and Hingson, (2014), the biggest factor that contributed into the increased alcohol
consumption is genetic disorder. There are various evidences are collected through which it can
be easily proved that some specific genes creates alcoholism. DRD2 gens are identified as major
reason for creating alcohol. It disturbs the genetic behavior of the individual and influences them
for consuming drinks.
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As per the view of Bagnardi and et.al. (2015), many time people consume alcohol in
order to just uplift their moods. The consumption of alcoholic substances supports the sense of
happiness and calm, due to presence of serotonin and dopamine. Through these elements people
are able to have good sense of feeling. Along with this it also interrupts the nerve cell due to
which the nervous transmission get disturbed and individual feel relaxed and calm. However,
Devries and et.al., (2014), stated that regular consumption of the alcohols effects the activities of
the nervous cell and creates negative impact on their activities and results in the form of high
blood pressure, kidney, liver diseases and cancer.
As per the view of Holmes and et.al.,( 2014), young people are getting more influenced
towards alcoholism. The major reason of their drinking is identified as their friend cycle and
their surroundings. It creates peer pressure over them and influences in order to consume alcohol.
Therefore, teenagers are identified as most vulnerable group that are easily get attracted towards
activities. However, according to the Larsson, Drca and Wolk, (2014), rate of adult alcoholic is
also gradually increasing. In order to gain respect from their seniors, colleagues and represent
them cool they usually drinks alcohols, due to regular consumption they get addicted.
On the basis of above discussion various factors are identified that are increasing rate of
alcoholism in to the society. Some of them are like genetic alcoholism, alcoholic parents and
family background, psychological reasons, depression, etc. Therefore, it is influencing people of
different age group at various places (Moodie and et.al., 2013).
Controlling measures implemented by UK administration
The government of UK is very concerned due to the increased rate of alcohol
consumption. It is influencing physical and mental condition of the individual, due to which
growth of the nation is affecting. In order to reduce alcohol consumption, there are various
activities initialised by the administration of UK. According to the Prabhu, Obi and Rubenstein,
(2014), in 2011 and 2012 the age limit is figured for consuming alcohols. Under this process
individual having less that 16 years cannot drink. It helps in reducing the intake of ethyl alcohol
and maintains their effective growth. However, Reas and et.al., (2016), stated that the success
rate of the policy was very lower, due to this government started providing learning and
educational training in order to make them aware with their risk. Along with this the licensing of
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such products are also increased due to which consumption rate gradually falls (Stockwell and
et.al., 2016).
This was considered as a significant step in order to control or minimize their impact. As
per the view of the Stockwell and et.al., (2016), there are various campaign and strikes are
organised in order to stop consumption of alcohols. As most of the people were convened for
stop consumption of high strength alcohol substances. With the help of this step they are
negative impact of alcoholism is controlled at huge extend. White and Hingson, (2014 ), stated
that strategy of excess taxation is also imposed by the administration system of UK. With the
help of this step prices the alcohol products get increased, due to which their consumption also
get reduced. It supported in order to minimize the consumption of the alcohol and does stopped
their intake. On the basis of above investigation it is analyzed that administration system of UK
is taking various step in order to reduce or control consumption of alcohol. In this process
various steps are considered by them such as increased taxation rate, licensing, banns and fixing
age limit (Bagnardi and et.al., 2015). It will help in order to reduce its consumption.
Impact of alcoholic consumption on human health
Alcohol consumption creates immense long term and short term impact on the health and
lifestyle of the individual. Based on the consumption quantity of the individual short term impact
are identified as vomiting, headaches, coma, blackout, breathing difficulties, etc (Prabhu, Obi
and Rubenstein, 2014). There are several long term impacts are also analyzed such as kidney and
liver diseases, sexual problems, throat and moth cancer, etc. As per the view of the Holmes and
et.al., (2014), consumption of alcoholism disturbs the nervous cells of the individual. In case of
regular intake, the pathway of signal transmission gets disturbed and creates negative impact on
the activities of the brain. As brain is considered as controlling part of the body, due to which
negative impact can be easily analyzed on various other body parts such as coordination,
understanding, mood, etc. However, Larsson, Drca and Wolk (2014) stated that excess drinking
can results in the form of high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmia, etc. These all factors create
immense impact on the body in the form of heart attack. It also affects working of liver, kidney
and pancreas, due to this various process gets affected such as filtration. These all results in the
form of swelling of body part, prevent digestion and cancer (White and Hingson, 2014).
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Along with this there are various other impacts are also identified. Moodie and et.al.,
(2013), stated that alcoholism creates negative impact on the mental and physical condition of
the individuals, it also creates negative impact on their personality. The increased consumption is
also maximizing the rate of accidental death and transportation crash. Apart from that it also
influences the production and growth rate of the nation (Reas and et.al., 2016). The
consumption of alcohol makes the muscles of the heart weak , which can further have a bad
impact on the liver, brain etc. On the first sip of the alcohol, it directly gets mixed with the flow
of the blood, thus stopping the brain from acting correctly. These further makes the person
unable to think properly, thus lacking in an accurate speech and a normal behavior. It can also
lead to various cancers but the most possibility is of the renal cancer as the renal system gets
badly affected by the consumption of alcohol. The renal area is considered as one of the sensitive
areas which can get poorly affected by the excess consumption of alcohol. Larsson, Drca and
Wolk (2014) says, Consumption of alcohol also dehydrates the body and can have a poor effect
on the skin. It excludes the skin from its vital nutrients, thus make it slurry and loose, which can
be noticed in the further years.
Ways by which alcohol consumption can be reduced
According to Keyes, Hatzenbuehler and Hasin (2011), it is a tough procedure for the
people who drink regularly to stop at a once. But, for heavy drinkers, there are various
alternatives which they can try for reducing the effect of alcohol in their bodies. These ways will
lead the person to move from a less or no alcohol consumption. People who are in a habit of
daily consumption can include some food while taking alcohol. The food will help in
absorbing the alcohol more slowly in the stomach. Sayette and et.al (2012) says that alternatives
can be used as well. It means the person in a regular habit can indulge themselves in other
external and interesting activities such as going for morning walks, doing yoga or gym, getting
involved in some sort of work so that the mind remains busy in these activities, thus not letting
the attention towards consuming alcohol. The method of drinking slowly can also be used.
Many people drink because of the peer pressure. Just not to stay odd from the others, it is
not a good option to involve in the same process. One can stay odd of his will and it has no
concern with going a fool or something like this. Direct peer pressure is even worse when the
opposite party forces to take a drink and it is quite unavoidable. As per Kodama and et.al (2011),
asking for support is not a bad idea, even consulting the issue with the parents, friends or any
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near one can act very helpful. They will also understand the fact that there must be some reasons
that have put the person in this addiction/situation and getting out of this could not be as easy.
So, they can help the person in keeping busy and in a healthy and happy environment so that the
person themselves is not willing to take it.
According to Pelucchi and et.al (2011), people who consume excess amount of alcohol
can be made aware of its causes as on its first sip, it directly enters and mixes with the blood
flow. Also, it makes the person unable to think properly, so the individual also lacks in acting
properly. It also causes various breathing problems and issues in the speech as well. Excessive
intake of it can even lead to coma or death as well. Rate of certain cancers also increases such as
the maximum risk because of the higher consumption of alcohol can cause renal cancer.
Research Methodology
Introduction
Research can be considered as an experimentation or investigation that includes the study
of some specific topic in order to discover facts and figures about it. Research methodology can
be termed as a systematic way of generating a proper plan for the regulation of the research. It
can be qualitative as well as quantitative and both as well. It may include researches from the
publications, surveys and other various techniques (White and Hingson, 2014). The research
methodology can prove helpful as it will help in assisting this research by providing a proper
investigation on the overall consumption of alcohol by the people of UK. The included
information and data can be taken from the historical as well as present analysis.
Research Philosophy
It can be termed as an opinion for the ways and methods in which the information and
data could be collected, examined and used. The process can be categorised in four forms, that
are pragmatism, positivism, interpretivism and the realism. Pragmatism is considered as a way
that supports a huge amount of mixed and various designs. It can be qualitative as well as
quantitative. Positivism is meant for the largely structured samples (Stockwell and et.al., 2016).
This research comes under Positivism as it involves the investigation of people consuming
alcohol and is a wide operation to do. In realism, the techniques that have been selected must fit
in for the main objective. In interpretivism, it deals with the small researches and it only involves
the qualitative information.
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The research philosophy will be sufficiently helpful in analysing the ways by which proper
information can be carried out for the people consuming alcohol, thus finding various ways for
minimizing the issues.
Research Design
The overall strategy that is to be combined with the various elements of the research in a
logical and reasonable way is considered as the designing of the research. Its forte is to give a
proper plan about the whole research that allows the exact evaluation of the effect and cause
relationships between the two variables. The variables can be dependent as well as independent.
It can be of various types such as descriptive, correlation-al, experimental, semi experimental
and the review (White and Hingson, 2014). Out of all these, descriptive includes the naturalistic
researches, co-orelational includes the observational studies, semi experimental compiles the
field experiment, experimental involves the a wide investigation and the review complies the
systematic and the literature review. The research design will help in providing an accurate plan
for the analysis and evaluation of the people who consume alcohol. The experimental design will
suit in this research as it covers a wide experiment and investigation and that only has to be done
for a proper analysis of alcohol consumption in the population of UK.
Research approach
The approach usually has the forte to exclude the external and unused factors and go
deeper in the issue for resolving it with the better outcome. It can be classified in three types,
deductive, inductive and the abductive approach. In deduction, if the establishment seems true,
the conclusion must be true as well and it has the ability to test the validation of the strategies. It
is usually connected to the quantitative analysis (Bagnardi and et.al., 2015). In induction, known
establishments are being used for producing the untested conclusions. In Abduction, known
establishments are used for producing the testable conclusions. In this research, deductive
approach will be helpful as it has the capability to check for the rationality of the other strategies
that are being applied by the researcher.
Research strategy
The research strategies are being used in a research for improving the quality of the
matter in the whole research. The process includes the analytical concepts, operational
procedures and the theory building factors (White and Hingson, 2014). It can be classified
mainly in two parts and that are qualitative and quantitative. The quantitative is further divided in
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