Alcohol and Pleasure is a collection of essays and research papers,
based on a conference held in New York in 1998 of the same title,
by a diverse selection of Professors, Doctors and experts in their
specialist fields of anthropology, sociology and alcohol research
for example.The combination of such an eminent collection of authors,
with different approaches, resolutions and styles makes for thought
provoking and stimulating reading.
The contributors share a common view that alcohol has a legitimate
place in society and a concern that accurate and balanced information
should be available to guide individuals in their drinking choices.The
aim was to explore the area between the pleasure of most peoples'
drinking experiences and the tragic consequences of alcohol abuse.
The book is divided into six parts. Part 1 entitled Pleasure and
Health, surveys evidence which points to pleasure as an essential
element of physical and mental health and discusses the resulting
implications for Public Health policy. Part 2, Pleasure and Alcohol
cross-culturally, provides a series of case studies , by authors
such as Professor Dwight Heath, examining the impact of pleasure
on the nature and trends in drinking in both the developing and
developed world.
Part 3, Alcohol and Medical, Psychological and Social Health,
reviews the range of health benefits that are drawn from moderate
consumption of alcohol and the extent that these allow for positive
health recommendations on drinking. Part 4, entitled Drinking
Expectations and Contexts, explores the array of non-pharmacological
factors that add to, modify or direct human reactions to alcohol,
including differences based on age and gender. Part 5 then tackles
Pleasure and Alcohol Policy and questions evolving concepts of
health as found in the WHO Quality of Life project, concluding that if pleasure is taken
as an important indicator of health, there is ground for formulating
more flexible alcohol policies.
Alcohol and Pleasure discusses alcohol misuse, binge drinking
and dependent drinkers. Solutions are offered in 'Reducing harmful
drinking' and strong emphasis is placed on individual responsibility,
education and the proper initiation of the young to responsible
drinking.
Alcohol and Pleasure - a Health perspective makes an important
contribution to the debate on alcohol and its role in society,
it discusses a vast array of topics and makes essential reading
for all those involved, or interested in alcohol and social issues.
Alcohol and Pleasure- a Health Perspective is published by Brunner
/Mazel Publishers47 Runway Road, Suite G, Levittown, PA 19057
USA tel 800 821 8312 ISBN 1-583910158
