The Kettil Bruun Society (KBS) has developed from a small, almost informal group of social researchers to a relatively large organisation that has sustained itself over the decades, organising regularly its annual symposia and less regular thematic meetings which offer a platform for comparative social and epidemiological alcohol research.

Unlike the few previous papers on KBS, which focused on internal development, the aim of this one is to put its history in a wider global political, social and economic context.

Several global developments were identified that may have affected the KBS and its history: emergence of the new left generation in the 60s; growth and decline of the welfare state, in particular the Nordic welfare state with its health-oriented alcohol monopolies; globalisation and internationalisation of research; emergence and expansion of neoliberal ideologies; globalisation of the alcohol industry and social aspects organisations; technological and methodological advances in research.

The Society’s original organisational culture, with a focus on the comparative perspective, openness, transparency and supportive relationships among members, has been sustained but is likely to evolve under a pressure of recent global developments.