How has screening of harmful drinking changed over the years?

“While this multifaceted approach to harmful drinking has remained roughly the same over the years, dramatic changes have occurred in the ability to analyze alcohol biomarkers and in interpreting their diagnostic value.” The question raised in the title cannot be reasonably answered until we define what we mean by the terms ‘screening’ and ‘harmful drinking’. Different answers could be given if these terms are alternatively considered in the perspectives of: preventive medicine policy; control of patients under therapy for alcohol addiction; workplace testing; license to carry firearms; or driving license regranting. Quite obviously, the size of the investigated populations and...