According to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, "Far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems and diseases like cancer and stroke.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said one in every twenty deaths globally is caused by alcohol.
In a report published by the organisation on Friday, more than three million people were said to have died from alcohol-related incidents in 2016.
More than 75 per cent of the deaths were among men.
According to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, "Far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems and diseases like cancer and stroke.
“It’s time to step up action to prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies.”
Noting how countries can work towards curbing the dangerous trend, Dr Vladimir Poznyak, Coordinator of WHO’s Management of Substance Abuse unit said: “All countries can do much more to reduce the health and social costs of the harmful use of alcohol.
“Proven, cost-effective actions include increasing taxes on alcoholic drinks, bans or restrictions on alcohol advertising, and restricting the physical availability of alcohol.”