The ERAB Board Members: Prof. Kari Poikolainen, Dr Giovanni Addolorato, Prof. Wolfgang

Koenig, Mrs Janet Witheridge, Prof. Philippe De Witte, Dr Matty Weijenberg and Dr Chris P. Day.

This book reflects a harmonious relationship between the academic world and the

European brewing industry. Despite the fact that they appear to be driven by divergent

perspectives, they both agree that ignorance may lead to prejudice. Assumptions

made about alcohol, and beer in particular, are often based on media coverage,

cultural stereotypes and even myths, without any relevant in depth scientific analysis.

ERAB: The European Foundation for Alcohol Research (ERAB) is proud to provide a

step forward to enhance the knowledge of the effects of beer and alcohol on the body

and the brain as well as the analysis of the best strategies to reduce, in the short and

long term, the possible damage induced by its use.

The beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption in terms of cardiovascular disease

together with the detrimental effect in terms of cancer, lead to the assumption that

consumption must be evaluated personally, taking into account the contextual environment,

the global body state and the consensual pleasure arising from its consumption.

"In today's world, we seek to understand, through scientific inquiry, why people drink,

why some drink more than others, and why some drink despite negative consequences.

Such scientific inquiries require the exploration of multiple spheres of influence

ranging from genetic susceptibility to environmental risk within the context of prevailing

socio-cultural norms. To this end, ERAB the European Foundation for Alcohol

Research is an outstanding example of how the brewing industry and academia are

working together to address these issues of mutual concern in contemporary European

societies."

Professor TK Li, Former Chairman of Scientific Advisory Council of

ABMRF, Former Director of NIAAA, NIH.