A global strategy for reducing the harm associated with alcohol use will be issued within the next two years by the World Health Organization (WHO), Reuters reported Jan. 25.

The WHO's executive board announced that the strategy would tackle a broad range of alcohol-related problems, from liver problems and sexually transmitted diseases to auto crashes. Prevention recommendations would be issued for "all at-risk populations such as young people and those affected by the harmful drinking of others," according to Fadela Chaib, a WHO spokesperson.

The WHO's member states would have to approve the plan before work could proceed, but approval is expected. The strategy could be similar to the WHO's efforts around smoking, which resulted in an international tobacco treaty in 2003 that limited advertising and called for stronger warnings on cigarette packs.

The WHO board blamed 2.3 million premature deaths annually on alcohol.