important to alert the public to signs of unhealthy alcohol use, but added that it’s hard to recommend interventions based on one study.
Brown said some groups may be under- or overrepresented in this study.
“From a policy standpoint, it would be difficult to say what would be appropriate,” he said. “The study authors acknowledge that this was one snapshot in time. We don’t know the extent of the harm. Did it occur monthly? Weekly? It helps to know where you should commit money to interventions.”
The author of a second editorial, Dr. Timothy Naimi of Boston Medical Center, said population-based strategies are needed. He noted that taxes on alcohol have been effective, yet federal alcohol taxes have recently been cut.
“The freedom to drink alcohol must be counterbalanced by the freedom from being affected by others’ drinking in ways manifested as
