The societal cost of alcohol consumption: an estimation of the economic and human cost including health effects in Sweden, 2002

Summary, in English

This article estimates the societal cost of alcohol consumption in Sweden in 2002, as well as the effects on health and quality of life. The estimation includes direct costs, indirect costs and intangible costs. Relevant cost-of-illness methods are applied using the human capital method and prevalence-based estimates, as suggested in existing international guidelines, allowing cautious comparison with prior studies. The results show that the net cost (i.e. including protective effects of alcohol consumption) is 20.3 billion Swedish kronor (SEK) and the gross cost (counting only detrimental effects) is 29.4 billon (0.9 and 1.3% of GDP). Alcohol consumption is estimated to cause a net loss of 121,800 QALYs. The results are within the range found in prior studies, although at the low end. A large number of sensitivity analyses are performed, indicating a sensitivity range of 50%.

• Author: Johan Jarl; Pia Johansson; Antonina Eriksson; Mimmi Eriksson; Ulf Gerdtham; Örjan Hemstrom; Klara Hradilova Selin; Leif Lenke; Mats Ramstedt; Robin Room
• Department/s: Social Epidemiology
• Publishing year: 2008
• Language: English
• Pages: 351-360
• Publication/Series: European Journal of Health Economics
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 4
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10198-007-0082-1
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Springer
• Topic: Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy
• Keywords: Social cost; Sweden; Alcohol; COI; Quality of life
• Status: Published
• Research group: Social Epidemiology
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1618-7601