Alcohol Use & Abuse - Social and Health Effects

Report and Recommendation on the Social and Health Effects of Alcohol Use and Abuse and Implementation of an Expanded Churchwide Address to Alcohol-Related Problems.

The 196th General Assembly (1984) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meeting in Phoenix Arizona, in June of 1984 noted that, "though past General Assemblies have made several specific statements dealing with the concerns of alcohol, there has been no major policy study for several years and there is a need for a deeper and broader understanding and strategy to deal with the social and health effects of the abuse of alcohol as a public policy problem of increasing magnitude." 

This document consists of two reports: Report and Recommendations on the Social and Health Effects of Alcohol Use and Abuse as well as Implementation of an Expanded Churchwide Address to Alcohol-Related Problems that were adopted by the 198th General Assembly (1986). Considers the impact of federal and state tax policies on use and abuse of alcohol, the export of alcohol from the US to developing countries, the advertising of alcohol through media, and toll of death and injury resulting from drinking and driving. Members of the task force prepared a policy statement and recommendations in the hope that they will serve as a stimulus to governing bodies to examine the uses in a comprehensive manner and to initiate strategies through all levels of the church that will address alcohol related problems in the church and society.