Konzumace alkoholu v ČR a její náklady

The aim of this thesis is to quantify selected societal costs of alcohol consumption in the Czech Republic in 2023 using a prevalence-based cost-of-illness approach. The analysis combines administrative data and modeled estimates and captures both direct health costs and selected indirect costs, particularly those associated with the behavioral effects of alcohol. Emphasis is placed on a transparent methodology, distinguishing between methods of allocating alcohol-related costs, and carefully accounting for the uncertainty of the results. The methodology is based on the use of alcohol-attributable fractions (AAF) in processing the available data. Direct health costs are derived from health insurance data, while other modelled components include healthcare costs of injuries, traffic accidents, and productivity losses resulting from premature deaths. The results show that the selected societal costs of alcohol consumption amount to approximately CZK 46.7 billion in the baseline scenario. The largest portion consists of productivity losses, while direct health costs represent a relatively smaller component of the total estimate, which is consistent with the findings of the international literature. The study identifies limitations related primarily to data availability and the need to use approximations, which likely lead to an underestimation of the broader economic burden of alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, the results provide a relevant empirical basis for further research and for discussions on public policies aimed at reducing the harms caused by alcohol consumption.