The WHO Program on Substance Abuse funded NDRI to coordinate the development of a document on alcohol consistent with 'Guidelines for controlling and monitoring the tobacco epidemic' (WHO, 1996). The purpose of the document is twofold:
* to provide advice and guidance to all WHO Member States on assessment and epidemiological monitoring in order to inform and facilitate effective policy formation;
* to improve the global and regional comparability of data on alcohol use and health consequences in order to improve monitoring and to facilitate research and risk assessment.
A final document has been prepared with the asistance of an international expert working group coordinated by NDRI. This is intended to provide 'best advice' on how to minitor alcohol-related consumption and harm across different countries in the light of these difficulties. The document has been published by WHO, Geneva and can be ordered at no charge by email to Tess Narciso at narcisot@who.ch.