Research Protocol: Alcohol use: "Less is Better"

This is an umbrella systematic review with integration of targeted meta-analyses where appropriate. The study aims to synthesize evidence on alcohol consumption and its dose-response relationships with acute, chronic, and social outcomes in adults, identify effective clinical interventions for reducing consumption, and evaluate population-level policies for alcohol harm reduction. The review will address four main research questions: (1) What are the main acute, chronic and social risks associated with alcohol consumption along the spectrum of quantity and patterns? (2) What is the recent evidence on dose-response relationship and risk thresholds where the evidence is solid and where controversies remain? (3) Which clinical interventions are effective and implementable to reduce consumption and/or related outcomes? (4) Which population policies have the greatest effectiveness in reducing consumption and harm, and what are the main barriers and criticisms? The evidence will be synthesized by domains including epidemiology and measurement, risk mapping, dose-response relationships, sensitive subgroups, clinical implications, and health policy. This umbrella review will provide a comprehensive evidence synthesis to inform clinical practice and public health policy regarding alcohol consumption patterns and preventive interventions across multiple health outcomes.