Alcohol consumption in Ireland to fall by 1.7 litres per capita by 2025, but the global situation continues to be serious
by Gianluca Avagnina
WHO projections
indicate that alcohol consumption per person (15+ years) in Ireland will be
10.9 litres in 2015, 10 litres in 2020 and 9.2 litres in 2025.
Such figures are in
line with the trend of the WHO European Region, where alcohol consumption is
expected to decrease by 0.6 litres per capita. However, the region is still
likely to hold the highest per capita consumption in
the world in 2025.
Alcohol consumption is
projected to increase in the WHO Regions of the Americas and South-East Asia,
while is predicted to remain stable in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean and
African Regions.
Populations in the WHO
Western Pacific Region, dominated by the population of China, are forecasted to
register the highest rise, with an increase of 1.5 litres per capita of pure
alcohol.
Global per capita
alcohol consumption is expected to rise, unless the predicted increase in half
of the WHO Regions is counterbalanced by significant
decreases in the other half.
IMPACT ON HEALTH
Speaking about the
findings of the Global status report on
alcohol and death 2014, WHO Assistant Director-General Oleg Chestnov said
that the report “highlights some progress achieved in WHO Member States in the
development and implementation of alcohol policies according to the 10 areas of
action at the national level recommended by the Global strategy."
However, there is no
room for complacency since “globally, harmful use of alcohol causes approximately
3.3 million deaths every year (or 5.9% of all deaths), and 5.1% of the global
burden of disease is attributable to alcohol consumption.”
As shown by the most
recent WHO data, Ireland’s YLL score is the highest on the scale (5). The YLL
indicator is based on the percentage of Years of Life Lost that can be
attributable to alcohol, on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 representing the lowest
percentage and 5 the highest). Such indicator accounts for the size of the
country along with the overall life expectancy, determined mostly by
wealth.
CURRENT SITUATION AND TOURIST CONSUMPTION
People around the world consume an average of 6.2 litres per capita of pure alcohol every year, according to WHO findings.
However, the highest consumption is concentrated in the WHO European Region and the WHO Region of Americas.
In particular, the WHO European Region consumes over a quarter (25.7%) of the total alcohol consumed worldwide, although it hosts only 14.7% of the world’s population above 15 years of age.
On average, in Ireland individuals currently drink 11.9 litres per year, of which 16.8 litres are consumed by men and 7.1 litres by women.
Tourist consumption of alcohol in Ireland accounts for an average of 0.5 litres per capita, according to data for the year 2010.
IRELAND: DEFINITELY A BEER COUNTRY
Figures relating to alcohol consumption by type of beverage show that Ireland consumes mostly beer (48.1%), followed by wine (26.1%) and spirits (18.7%).
Germany and the US are “beer countries” as well, the former consuming 53.6% and the latter 50% of the total national alcohol consumption.
In contrast, wine represents more than half of the total in both Italy (65.5%) and France (56.4%).
Russia, predictably, prefers to drink spirits (51%), but India, going against every stereotype, beats it by a long way with a remarkable 93.1%.
WHO OBJECTIVES
Germany and the US are “beer countries” as well, the former consuming 53.6% and the latter 50% of the total national alcohol consumption.
In contrast, wine represents more than half of the total in both Italy (65.5%) and France (56.4%).
Russia, predictably, prefers to drink spirits (51%), but India, going against every stereotype, beats it by a long way with a remarkable 93.1%.
WHO OBJECTIVES
The World Health
Organisation has intensified its actions in the attempt to reduce the negative
consequences of the use of alcohol worldwide.
However, Mr Chestnov said that “all the efforts and resources available at all levels are clearly not adequate to confront the enormous public health burden caused by the harmful use of alcohol.”
He believes that further progress is necessary to achieve the target of at least a 10% reduction in the harmful use of alcohol by 2025, one of the objectives outlined in the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy.
[ Data Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository ]
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