Defining Drinking Problems in the UK as a Corporation-induced Disorder: Theoretical and Public Health Implications

The term epidemic is generally defined as the “occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness … or other health related events clearly in excess of normal expectancy” (A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 1988).  The term is typically used to communicate health risks affecting large numbers of individuals throughout an area at the same time or to describe a health condition or social problem that is widely prevalent.  This paper applies Jahiel’s theory of corporation-induced disease as a possible explanation for an epidemic of alcohol-related problems in the United Kingdom. 

The UK was selected as the basis for this case study because it has recently experienced a significant increase in alcohol-related problems following a general relaxation of alcohol control policies.  Corporate_induced_epidemic_UK.pdf