First, the estimates should not be considered precise measures. Good data are not readily available for many of the areas in which costs are incurred. Some areas, such as productivity losses, employ quantities that are fundamentally unobservable, and thus must be based on theoretical and statistical inference. Second, these estimates are not able to capture all the significant aspects of the alcohol-related burden. Foremost among these is the human suffering endured by individuals with alcohol-related problems and their families. Finally, these estimates of the economic costs of alcohol abuse are not sufficient by themselves to justify the use of one method over another to reduce such costs. Other factors must be considered before any cost-reducing measures can be taken; the estimates are merely one piece of a larger puzzle.
