Health Europeans consume the most alcohol in the world, according to the WHO

According to the latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO), Europeans are the world's biggest alcohol consumers with an average of 9.2 liters per year.

Europe continues to hold this "unenviable record", explained the head of WHO Europe, Gauden Galea, on Thursday. There has been no change in consumption patterns for ten years. America came in second place with an average per capita consumption of 7.5 liters per year.

According to the report, which is based on data from 2019, men in Europe drink an average of 14.9 liters per year, almost four times as much as women, who only drink four liters.

The damage caused by consumption is also massive: one in ten adults suffers from alcohol-related illnesses such as cardiovascular damage, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases or cancer. Almost six percent of adults are considered alcohol addicts. Alcohol is also one of the main causes of death in Europe, accounting for around 800,000 deaths per year.

In view of the worrying figures, the WHO has called on European countries to increase taxes on alcoholic beverages. They should also implement comprehensive restrictions on the marketing of alcohol and limit the availability of alcohol.

According to the WHO, alcohol kills 2.6 million people worldwide every year. The figures have fallen slightly in recent years. According to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, they are still "unacceptably high".

SDA