Informing public health policy: A historical review of alcohol in Zambia

Abstract

The purpose of this review was to summarize the history of alcohol use prevalence, cultural beliefs and attitudes, and policies to inform current strategies for addressing alcohol use disorders in Zambia. This review contained peer-reviewed journal articles, unpublished grey literature, and historical documents. Results found differences between earlier decades and today such as new motivations for drinking including limited employment/work opportunities, boredom, lack of activities, hopelessness, coping with abuse, increased prevalence of women and youths consuming alcohol, increased alcohol industry marketing, increased school fees facilitating educational scarcities and alcohol use among youths, and the development of new laws including a national policy targeting alcohol. Similarities between earlier decades and today are also discussed. This historical review has revealed the need to learn lessons from the past and move toward environmental and economic policies to inform and support public health efforts that address alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in Zambia.

Keywords

• Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorders, Substance Use, Zambia, Non-communicable Disease