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contained peer-reviewed journal articles, unpublished grey literature, and

historical documents.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.