Background
Alcohol consumption is rising in many developing countries and in Central and Eastern Europe (WHO 2005). Alcohol's abuse significantly contributes to the global burden of disease and in parts of Central and Eastern Europe alcohol abuse has been linked to an unprecedented decline in male life expectancy (WHO 2001). On average, alcohol dependence one-year prevalence is around 7% and its life-time prevalence rates are 14% in the general population (Regier 1993; Kessler 1994). Alcohol dependence (also called alcoholism) is a condition that involves four main symptoms: craving (a strong need to drink); uncontrolled behaviour (after the first drink it is impossible to stop); physical dependence (if one does not drink enough then withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety occur); and tolerance (the need to increase the amount of alcohol intake to feel satisfied) (NIAA 2003).