J Korean Acad Fam Med.
2008 Mar;29(3):201-212.
Socioeconomic Costs of Alcohol Drinking in Korea
- Affiliations
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- 1Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. wchung@yuhs.ac
- 2Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Preventive Medicine, The Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 5Liver Cirrhosis Clinical Research Center, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.
- 6Department of Health Services Management, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate socioeconomic costs caused by alcohol drinking in Korea as of 2004 in an effort to raise the awareness of the gravity of problems associated with alcohol drinking and the necessity of active intervention by family physicians.
METHODS
The costs were classified as direct costs, indirect costs and other costs. The direct costs consisted of direct medical costs and direct non-medical costs. The indirect costs were computed by the reduction and loss of productivity and the loss of workforce. Other costs consisted of property loss, administration costs and costs of alcohol beverage.
RESULTS
The annual costs, which seemed to be attributable to alcohol drinking, were estimated to be 200,990 hundred million won (2.9% of GDP). In the case of the former, the amount included 38.83% for reduction of productivity, 26.92% for loss of the workforce, 22.24% for alcoholic beverage, 5.34% for direct medical costs, 2.29% for loss of productivity, 1.87% for direct non- medical costs, 1.54% for administration costs and 0.97% for loss of property.
CONCLUSION
Our study confirms that compared with the cases of Japan (1.9% of GNP), Canada (1.09% of GDP), France (1.42% of GDP) and Scotland (1.19% of GDP), alcohol drinking incurs substantial socioeconomic costs to Koreans. An active intervention by family physicians is suggested.
