Alcohol consumption is an integral part of the social fabric in many countries. Yet the role occupied by drinking is quite different across countries and cultures, and is reflected in local customs, patterns, and attitudes. Despite this wide diversity, the lingua franca of the alcohol field is English, as are the publications that provide the evidence base most commonly used in international policy discussions. As a result, much of the research published in other languages and reflecting different cultural contexts and approaches escapes broader notice.

The ICAP Periodic Review on Drinking and Culture is an electronic publication that seeks to help remedy this disparity. Its key objectives are to:

1. give greater exposure to research not currently published or widely available in English;
2. broaden the range of cultural perspectives and the evidence base used in the crafting of policy and prevention.

Each issue of the Periodic Review presents English translations of abstracts of publications appearing in language areas currently underrepresented in major English-language research databases. Coverage of the Periodic Review is limited to psychosocial and socio-cultural research, to focus on drinking culture, behavior, patterns, and psychosocial outcomes.

Identification and selection of key research to be featured and all editorial decisions are carried out by an Editorial Group, consisting of experts from diverse geographic, linguistic, and disciplinary areas

Relevant materials:

• ICAP Periodic Review on Drinking and Culture: ISSUE 4
  The fourth issue of the Periodic Review features summaries of recent journal articles, books, and reports from 9 central, southern, and eastern European countries, covering the following topics: alcohol and the workplace, drinking and violence, drinking patterns in adult population, early identification and brief intervention, extreme/"binge" drinking, motivations and expectancies, road safety, and drinking among young people.
• ICAP Periodic Review on Drinking and Culture: ISSUE 3
  The third issue of the Periodic Review features abstracts of journal articles published in late 2008 and 2009. It covers 9 central, southern, and eastern European countries and 8 languages. The featured abstracts focus on the following topics: alcohol and the workplace, drinking and violence, extreme/"binge" drinking, inequalities in health, road safety, and drinking among young people. The abstracts are grouped by topic and country.
• ICAP Periodic Review on Drinking and Culture: ISSUE 2
  The second issue of the Periodic Review features abstracts of journal articles published between 2007 and 2009. It covers 11 central, southern, and eastern European countries and 8 languages. The featured abstracts focus on the following topics: alcohol and pregnancy, alcohol and the workplace, drinking and violence, drinking patterns in adult population, extreme/"binge" drinking, motivations and expectancies, road safety, and drinking among young people. The abstracts are grouped by topic and country.
• ICAP Periodic Review on Drinking and Culture: ISSUE 1
  The first issue of the Periodic Review features abstracts of journal articles published between 2003 and 2008 in 15 central, southern, and eastern European countries, representing 11 languages. The featured abstracts focus on the following topics: alcohol and pregnancy, alcohol and the workplace, cardiovascular effects, drinking and violence, drinking patterns in adult population, extreme/"binge" drinking, motivations and expectancies, and drinking among young people. The abstracts are grouped by topic and country.
• What is the ICAP Periodic Review on Drinking and Culture?
  Background, objectives, and features
• Members of the Editorial Group
• Guidelines for Editorial Group of ICAP Periodic Review on Drinking and Culture