Practical issues, ethical concerns and future directions in the prevention of alcohol-related problems.

This article explores some basic assumptions that underlie the prevention of alcohol-related problems. Using a standard public health definition of prevention, the strategies of health promotion, disease prevention and health protection are explored along several dimensions. These dimensions are problem definition, ways of understanding the problem and ethical principles. The article argues for a broader definition of prevention based on a more holistic approach premised on the tenets of an ethical perspective linked to social justice. A general heuristic model for looking at relevant factors to be considered in the development of prevention research, planning and programming.