Citation

Kanda H, Okamura T. Alcohol Alcohol. 2014; 49 Suppl 1: i54.

Affiliation

Department of Hyegine and Public Health, Keio University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/alcalc/agu054.7

PMID

25221238

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Inadequate use of alcohol affects not only human health directly, but also several aspects in society. It indicates that alcohol consumption imposes a marked economic burden on society including health care costs and costs of productivity loss. This study reviewed previous papers on the health care costs by alcohol consumption in Japan, and focused to provide an estimate of the economic costs of alcohol from a social viewpoint.

METHODS: We reviewed the papers on the economic costs of alcohol consumption and the health care costs on alcohol related diseases in Japan. Then, we introduced the papers on two cohort studies on health care costs of alcohol consumption in Japan.

RESULTS: Estimates of economic costs of alcohol consumption in Japan were about 1000 billion yen in direct health care cost and about 3000 billion yen to about 5300 billion yen in indirect cost. Our results also indicated that heavy drinkers tend to consume more on the medical costs within around 5 years.

CONCLUSION: Inadequate use of alcohol increased to not only death, but also economic burden among Japanese. The estimates of economic costs of alcohol consumption in Japan were about 1000 billion yen per year in direct health care cost, and heavy drinkers tend to consume the medical costs within around 5 years in Japan.

Language: en