This article estimates the societal cost of alcohol consumption in Sweden in 2002, as well as the effects on health and quality of life. The estimation includes direct costs, indirect costs and intangible costs. Relevant cost-of-illness methods are applied using the human capital method and prevalence-based estimates, as suggested in existing international guidelines, allowing cautious comparison with prior studies. The results show that the net cost (i.e. including protective effects of alcohol consumption) is 20.3 billion Swedish kronor (SEK) and the gross cost (counting only detrimental effects) is 29.4 billion (0.9 and 1.3% of GDP). Alcohol consumption is estimated to cause a net loss of 121,800 QALYs. The results are within the range found in prior studies, although at the low end. A large number of sensitivity analyses are performed, indicating a sensitivity range of 50%.

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Bee and wasp stings represent an uncommon cause of death. In a retrospective study of all fatalities due to venomous animals in Sweden during a 10-year-period, we found 19 fatalities due to wasps, 1 due to bees but none due to snake bite. This gives an annual incidence of 0.2 per million inhabitants. Most of the deceased were older than 50 years and had an underlying cardiovascular disease while previous severe reactions after insect stings were uncommon. The number of stings was not a factor of importance. Symptoms and death occurred within minutes after the sting. The autopsy findings were in most cases non-specific. Although uncommon, the possibility of a fatal insect sting should be considered in unwitnessed deaths occurring outdoors in summertime.

Almost every third injury event in females and in almost every other event in males is alcohol-related, showing that alcohol plays an important part in fatal injuries in females even though it is mostly a male problem.