Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

Table 7.9 Estimated number of injuries and deaths in traffic accidents involving alcohol use, from 1998
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Deaths 225 210 200 180 170 170 135 115 100 95
Hospital admissions 3 600 3 500 3 200 3 000 3 000 2 900 2 800 2 500 2 100 2 200
Source: Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management: traffic and shipping service (DVS),
7.7 Illness and deaths
Illnesses
Moderate alcohol consumption: new insights
To date, it has appeared that moderate alcohol consumption was not harmful. In fact,
light alcohol consumption is supposed to offer some protection against cardio-vascular
illness.
• Against this background, the Dutch Health Council (2006) in its ‘Healthy Eating
Guidelines’ recommended alcohol intake of no more than two standard measures
daily for men and no more that one standard measure daily for women. Only young
people under the age of 18 and women who might be pregnant or were breastfeeding
were advised to abstain from alcohol.
• However, recent research has given rise to the supposition that even moderate alcohol
might not be without risks (Lauer & Sorlie, 2009). Moderate alcohol consumption can
increase susceptibility to certain forms of cancer. It is probable that this disadvantage
of an elevated cancer risk is no longer outweighed by the benefits of a reduced risk of
cardio-vascular illness. Therefore, a universally applicable ‘safe lower limit’ for alcohol
consumption which would rule out an elevated cancer risk cannot be established
(SAR, 2010).
Excessive alcohol use
The harmful effects of excessive alcohol use are numerous.
• Alcohol use is related to over 60 medical conditions. For most of these, risk increases
according as more alcohol is consumed Anderson & Baumberg, 2006; Room et al.,
2005).
• Globally, alcohol use causes almost as many deaths and illnesses as smoking and high
blood pressure. The global illness burden from alcohol has been calculated to be 4.6
percent (Rehm et al., 2009).
Excessive alcohol use increases the risk of certain types of cancer (KWF Dutch Cancer
Society, 2004; Lauer & Sorlie, 2009).
• Drinking two or more units of alcohol daily increases the risk of cancer of the mouth
and throat, as well as a certain type of oesophageal cancer. The risk is further exacerbated
for those who smoke as well.
168 Netherlands National Drug Monitor - NDM Annual Report 2009