Alcohol Policy Best Practices

Worldwide Library of WHO Alcohol Policy Best Buys Implementation Cases

Alcohol Policy That Works – Evidence From Around the World

Welcome to the unique library of country best practices in implementing the WHO Alcohol Policy Best Buys.

Browse our growing collection of policy briefs on the most cost-effective alcohol policy solutions to prevent and reduce alcohol harm. Rooted in state of the art evidence, adapted for real-world contexts, written for practitioners, policymakers, and advocates.

This policy briefs series is dedicated to highlighting country best practices in implementing the three alcohol policy best buys – evidence-based alcohol policy solutions identified by the World Health Organization as the most cost-effective interventions governments can use to prevent and reduce alcohol harm. Each brief in the series examines one of the three best buys:

1. Raising alcohol taxes to reduce affordability,
2. Banning or comprehensively limiting alcohol advertising, sponsorship, and promotion, and
3. Placing common-sense limits on alcohol availability.

Best Buy 1: Raising Alcohol Taxes

The policy brief includes case stories that provide concrete alcohol taxation best practice examples from eight countries. These are best practice cases where the results of the alcohol tax changes have been evaluated scientifically in peer-reviewed papers or by WHO experts.

Raising alcohol taxes is an effective but under-utilized policy solution to tackle the massive burden of alcohol harm. Alcohol taxation can contributes to:

1. Prevent and reduce harm,
2. Generate revenue,
3. Finance health and development priorities, and
4. Advance health equity and social justice.

Alcohol taxation is the single most cost-effective measure to reduce and prevent alcohol harm. It contributes to reducing population-level alcohol consumption and to preventing the onset of related chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis of the liver, obesity and diabetes. Moreover, taxing to increase the price of alcohol products helps reduce the high human and economic cost of road traffic injuries, fatalities, and domestic violence.

Suggested citation: Andersson P. Alcohol tax implementation case stories [policy brief]. Dünnbier M, editor. Movendi International; RESET Alcohol; 2024 Apr, updated 2026 Mar.

Best Buy 2: Placing Common-Sense Limits on Alcohol Availability

This brief focuses on the second best buy – common-sense limits on alcohol availability. It presents scientifically evaluated examples from countries and cities around the world where availability policies have demonstrably reduced alcohol consumption, harm, and costs. It also includes cases where governments expanded alcohol availability, illustrating the predictable consequences when alcohol becomes more present in communities.

Setting evidence-based standards for when, where, by whom, and to whom alcohol is sold is a common-sense approach to preventing alcohol harms, such as violence, impaired driving, and others.

Suggested citation: Andersson, P. (2026). Improve Limitations on Alcohol Availability: Country Best Practices in Implementing the Alcohol Policy Best Buys. Dünnbier, M. (Ed.). Stockholm: Movendi International.

Best Buy 3: Banning Alcohol Advertising, Sponsorship, and Promotion

Limiting exposure to alcohol marketing – especially concerning children, young people, and other at-risk communities – prevents early initiation and normalisation of alcohol, as well as reducing the risk of disease later on in life.