Alcohol is the fourth most dangerous drug after heroin, crack and crystal meth
and the second most damaging to society,
according to a study published in the British Medical Journal
(http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000774.full)
Alcohol ranks "most harmful" among a list of 20 drugs,
beating out crack and heroin when assessed for its potential harm to the individual imbibing and harm to others in Drunk Driving fatalities or other alcohol related accidents.
Therefore aggressively targeting alcohol harms is a valid and necessary public health strategy.
The National Institute of Health lists the Brain, Liver, pancreas, Immune system and others as damaged by Alcohol use. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body