The WHO’s comparative risk assessment study (Rehm et al., 2004) describes the impact of alcohol consumption has on health using a multidimensional model. The model visualises that alcohol has biochemical effects and also is a drug of dependence. Additionally the occurrence of intoxication and episodic heavy drinking is visualised as an intermediate variable between consumption and harm outcomes.The biochemical effects result in negative physical consequences and thus in acute as well as chronic diseases.
Besides its biochemical effects, alcohol dependence also influences harm outcomes by sustaining alcohol consumption. In this way it contributes to the impact alcohol has on the development of short and long-term diseases and social harms. The occurrence of intoxication and episodic heavy drinking can lead to physical as well as social harms, both acute and chronic: for example alcohol intoxication, injuries, and causing injuries to others (Anderson & Baumberg, 2006).
| Figure: The relationships between alcohol consumption, intermediate variables and alcohol related outcomes (source: Rehm et al., 2004).  | 
Literature and data sources
</p>
','../images/definition_short_1.gif');){kind=link}
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}