The world will take to the bottle: Global alcohol consumption has risen by 70 percent

Alcohol: Germany is far above the global average

Since the year 1990, the global alcohol consumption has increased worldwide by 70 percent. In particular, in middle-income countries such as China and India, the consumption of alcohol in the past 30 years, much more and more popular. Currently the global average is 6.5 litres of pure alcohol per capita. This is expected to increase, according to forecasts, by 2030, to 7.6 liters. For comparison, The average alcohol consumption is 12 litres of pure alcohol per capita – almost twice as high as the global average.

The data derive from the largest study to date of the global alcohol consumption. An international research group illuminated the consumption of alcohol in 195 countries from 1990 to 2016. The results were recently published in the renowned journal “The Lancet”. The Technical University of Dresden provided a forecast up to the year 2030.

International targets for alcohol reduction are far from it

The world health organization has set itself the goal of reducing the global consumption of alcohol by 2025, ten percent. Instead, the consumption will increase by around 15 per cent, predicted the Team led by Professor Jürgen Rehm, Director of the Epidemiological research group is Looking for.

Who drinks how much?

The current world average in 2016 at 6.5 litres of pure alcohol per capita. That’s the equivalent of around a bottle of beer (0,33 Liter) daily. In Germany the average is according to the TU Dresden for a minimum of 12 litres per head, with just two bottles of beer a day. Since it is in the Numbers, but a Per-head-consumption, the actual consumption of the individual persons is much higher, because according to the study, about 53 percent of the world’s population drink no alcohol, and a large part only occasionally. Also, on top of that, two-thirds of the alcohol of men is drunk. Thus, a large part of the total consumption goes drinkers on the account of male Habit. The number of those who remained a life-long celibate, is declined according to the study, from 46 to 43 percent. The lowest alcohol rates in the world were registered in the Middle East and North Africa.

In emerging countries, increasingly alcohol is consumed

In Germany, the consumption of alcohol has remained within the recent decades has been relatively stable at a high level. In Europe, could even be a slight downward trend. Responsible for the increased global consumption, emerging middle-income countries such as India, China and Vietnam are in the first place. “The predictions were much higher than expected,” explains Professor Rehm in a press release on the study.

Alcohol favors 200 diseases

As the researchers say, alcohol is a major health risk factor and is associated with over 200 diseases and injuries. Among other things, favors alcohol

• Heart diseases such as atrial fibrillation and heart flutter, stroke, hypertensive heart disease, ischemic heart disease and alcoholic cardiomyopathy;
• Cancer in breast, colon, liver, esophagus, larynx, lip, oral cavity or nose;
• Cirrhosis of the liver;
• Diabetes;
• Epilepsy;
• Inflammation Of The Pancreas (Pancreatitis);
• Respiratory infections and tuberculosis;
• Interpersonal violence and self-harm;
• Poisoning;
• Accidents such as traffic accidents or Drowning.

Are we to lax with alcohol?

“We need a effective alcohol policy, particularly in countries that are developing fast and a growing alcohol consumption”, says Professor Jürgen Rehm. To limit the consumption of alcohol, for example, higher taxation, limiting the availability and bans on advertising are needed. (vb)