Cited by 162Alcohol Consumption and Health EffectsSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesGlobal Public Health Policies and Epidemiology

Unrecorded consumption, quality of alcohol and health consequences

REHM, JÜRGEN, KANTERES, FOTIS, LACHENMEIER, DIRK W.·2010·Drug and Alcohol Review

Abstract

Issues. This contribution aims to examine systematically the evidence on the impact of the quality of unrecorded alcohol products on health consequences. Approach. Systematic computer assisted review of the literature. Key Findings. There are a number of pathways related to alcohol quality that may lead to acute or chronic health problems. The following constituents and contaminants of alcoholic beverages were identified as likely contributors to these problems: (i) toxic metals (e.g. lead) from contaminated water sources or unsuitable distillation equipment; (ii) volatile constituents, such as acetaldehyde or higher alcohols, which may be produced in significant amounts due to faults in production technology or microbiological spoilage; (iii) ethyl carbamate (urethane), a carcinogenic contaminant with major occurrence in certain fruit and sugarcane spirits; (iv) biologically active flavour compounds (e.g. coumarin in cosmetics used as non‐beverage alcohol); (v) toxic compounds used to denature alcohol (e.g. methanol or diethyl phthalate). In addition, the often higher ethanol content may have detrimental health effects. These pathways should not be assumed as present for all subcategories of unrecorded alcohol, but are more relevant to certain types and geographic regions. Implications. A health impact of unrecorded alcohol over and above the effect of ethanol cannot be excluded. More research is urgently needed, especially with respect to liver disease and alcohol poisoning as endpoints. Conclusion. A feasible approach for new research on the effects of unrecorded alcohol could be based on a representative sample from low socioeconomic regions with high prevalence of unrecorded consumption.[Rehm J, Kanteres F, Lachenmeier DW. Unrecorded consumption, quality of alcohol and health consequences. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010]

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00140.x

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  • The overall conclusion of relevant reviews has been that there is not sufficient evidence to link a sizable portion of liver cirrhosis mortality to unrecorded alcohol.

    “the overall conclusion of relevant reviews has been that there is not sufficient evidence to link a sizable portion of liver cirrhosis mortality to unrecorded alcohol (290, 291; see also 292).”

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Authors
REHM, J., KANTERES, F., & LACHENMEIER, D. W.
Affiliations
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Karlsruhe (DE)
Corresponding author
REHM, JÜRGEN
Venue
Drug and Alcohol Review
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-07
Volume
29
Issue
4
Pages
426-436
ISSN
  • 0959-5236 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-3362
OpenAlex
W1522539929
Cited by
160
References
118
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 12
FWCI
1.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Drug and Alcohol Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
Keywords
unrecorded alcohol, illicit alcohol, alcohol quality, toxic metals, lead contamination, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols, microbial spoilage, ethyl carbamate, coumarins, methanol, diethyl phthalate, alcohol denaturation, ethanol concentration, liver disease, alcohol poisoning, health effects
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholic Beverages, Animals, Health Status, Humans, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Global Health

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