The Global status report on alcohol and health 2014 presents a comprehensive perspective on the global, regional and country consumption of alcohol, patterns of drinking, health consequences and policy responses in Member States. It represents a continuing effort by the World Health Organization (WHO) to support Member States in collecting information in order to assist them in their efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, and its health and social consequences. The report was launched in Geneva on Monday 12 May 2014 during the second meeting of the global network of WHO national counterparts for implementation of the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. [Ed.] [Contents] Executive summary . 1. Alcohol and public health. 1.1 Alcohol consumption in its historical context. 1.2 Pathways of alcohol-related harm (Volume of alcohol consumed - Pattern of drinking - Quality of alcohol consumed). 1.3 Mechanisms of harm in an individual. 1.4 Abstention. 1.5 Factors affecting alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm (Age - Gender - Familial risk factors - Socioeconomic status - Economic development - Culture and context - Alcohol control and regulation). 1.6 Alcohol-related harms. 1.7 Action to reduce harmful use of alcohol. 1.8 Monitoring. 2. Alcohol consumption. 2.1 Levels of consumption. 2.2 Patterns of drinking. 2.3 Trends and projections. 3. Health consequences. 3.1.Aggregate health effects (Mortality - Alcohol-attributable burden of disease and injury - Factors impacting on health consequences). 3.2 Trends and projections- 4. Alcohol policy and interventions. Country profiles.