Gender-related norms persist in our societies, including in the consumption of alcohol. Despite knowing that men and women consume alcohol differently and are affected by its harm differently, alcohol control policies remain essentially gender blind. Highly gendered approaches to alcohol marketing and gender differences in patterns of alcohol consumption and its associated harm are well documented. Relatively little evidence has examined the different effects of population-level alcohol control policies on different genders, and even less has addressed how gender intersects with socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity, and other factors. Experiences from countries illustrate gendered approaches being used by the alcohol industry (Brazil and the United States) and the innovative ways that governments and civil society organizations are tackling the gendered effects of alcohol consumption. This includes promoting employment outside the alcohol industry (United Republic of Tanzania), developing gender-specific supports for alcohol consumption (Pakistan and Scotland), mobilizing civil society to enforce marketing bans (Sri Lanka) and creating culturally sensitive and culturally embedded policies (Aotearoa New Zealand). There is a clear need for policy-relevant research that supports an increased understanding of what works for gender-responsive approaches to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption.

Community surveys reveal that about 6% of the adult male and 1% of the adult female population in England and Wales are drinking at high risk levels. Alcohol Problems in the Community examines the implications of recent community care legislation for government policy on alcohol. The first part of the book begins with a report on recent US research on the role of alcohol in the perpetration of child abuse and recent research on young people's drinking problems. This is followed by a study on the prevalence of drinking problems amongst older people which has been underestimated. In the second half of the book empirical evidence is presented on the particular difficulties faced by ethnic, migrant and homeless groups and this emphasis on the centrality of social disadvantage leads on to a consideration of a specific social work role in the assessment and management of alcohol-related problems. Alcohol Problems in the Community is aimed at social work practitioners and students on prequalifying, qualifying and postqualifying social work courses, and it addresses key social work issues in relation to poverty, homelessness, discrimination and drinking problems.

Vols. for 1963- include as pt. 2 of the Jan. issue: Medical subject headings.