This paper provides an overall framework for understanding and interpreting the literature on the social costs of alcohol. The paper discusses several philosophical and practical perspectives that motivate different types of cost studies. The two broad motivating perspectives are the public health and the economic viewpoint; each have several subtypes. The types of cost studies are discussed along with findings of key studies. The perspective, type of study, and important findings are evaluated, and challenges for future research are discussed. Although this paper draws on the economics literature, it is written for the non-economist.
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