Every drink of alcohol leaves a lasting mark on individuals, families, and societies. Beyond its social presence, alcohol contributes to a wide range of harms including cancers, liver disease, road accidents, violence, and family breakdowns.
To address these issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific has launched the “Alcohol Leaves a Mark” campaign. This regional advocacy initiative calls for stronger policies and regulations to reduce alcohol-related harm. It follows a resolution unanimously endorsed by all 38 Member States of the Western Pacific Region during the seventy-sixth WHO Regional Committee Meeting held in Fiji in October.
Alcohol causes around half a million deaths each year in the Western Pacific – nearly one every minute – and is linked to more than 200 diseases and injuries. The impact extends beyond drinkers themselves, affecting families and communities. WHO Regional Director Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala emphasized that alcohol is a non-essential, harmful product that imposes a heavy burden on health and societies, calling for urgent action and effective regulation to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children and young people.
The “Alcohol Leaves a Mark” campaign seeks to raise awareness about alcohol’s negative effects and promote stronger regulation to safeguard public health. Through videos, posters, and social media content, it reveals alcohol’s ripple effects – from addiction and illness to family separation, violence, and road deaths – underscoring that communities ultimately bear the cost.
The campaign encourages policymakers, health professionals, media, and the public to participate by sharing campaign materials and supporting evidence-based regulations. Dr. Piukala described it as a call to collective awareness and action, highlighting the need to protect communities from the deep harms caused by alcohol consumption.
Recent data shows that in 2022, per-capita alcohol consumption in the Western Pacific averaged 5.2 litres, slightly above the global average of 5.0 litres. With aggressive alcohol marketing targeting youth on digital platforms, consumption is expected to increase without stricter regulation.
The campaign aligns with the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022–2030 and the SAFER technical package, which recommend proven strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm. Dr. Hiromasa Okayasu, Director of Health Promotion at the WHO Regional Office, reaffirmed that effective alcohol policies can save lives, stressing that alcohol harm is preventable. Ministers of health across the Western Pacific have recognized alcohol control as an urgent priority and committed to taking action.
Dr. Piukala concluded with a call to join the movement, spread awareness, and support stronger alcohol regulation, reminding everyone that “every drink leaves a mark” and collective action can prevent future harm.
