Alcohol consumption per capita - statistics of world alcoholism. Ten countries that drink the most What is the most drinking country

Alcohol has a long history and is distributed throughout the world. Alcohol consumption reflects the cultural characteristics of the population of different countries. Strong drinks are used in religious sacraments and simply for fun during a feast.

However, alcohol is not at all harmless and can cause addiction, the consequences of which are extremely sad and sometimes fatal. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has been working to control and reduce alcohol consumption for many years.

Alcoholism is widespread throughout the world, but in some countries this problem is especially acute. For many years, the leading positions were occupied by members of the former USSR, and over the past decade, the states of Western Europe have broken into the top five. Those who are distinguished by enviable constancy are Muslim peoples who do not welcome the use of alcohol.

Rating of countries according to statistics for 2016–2017

WHO and a number of other authorities maintain statistics on alcohol consumption. For example, the OECD is an international economic organization of developed countries. The report is provided every few years.

The latest data was published on the Delphi portal in mid-May 2017. Gauden Galea, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Health Promotion, WHO authorized representative, shared official conclusions with the online publication and named the top five drinking leaders.

It should be noted that WHO statistics take into account the consumption of both legal and self-made alcohol. For example, the population of Moldova prefers homemade wines.

In addition, WHO cooperates with the UN, assesses tourist flows, smuggled drinks and adjusts statistics accordingly. The level of alcohol consumption is calculated in liters of pure ethyl alcohol drunk per capita of the population over 15 years of age. At the same time, 60% of people in the world do not drink at all and 16% suffer from chronic alcoholism.

Lithuania is ahead of the rest

This country took first place. According to WHO estimates, in the small Baltic state, one resident on average consumes 16.2 liters of pure ethanol per year. Giving an interview, Gauden Galea stated verbatim: “This, according to the latest estimates, makes Lithuania one of the most drinking countries in the world.” The indicated amount of ethanol is 400 liters of beer. It is the foamy drink that Lithuanians prefer (46%). Strong alcohol is consumed by 34% of the population, and wine by 8%.

In addition, statistics show that alcohol in Lithuania is drunk 90% of the time at home. For comparison, in other European countries (Greece, Spain and Great Britain) more than 60% of consumption occurs in entertainment establishments - restaurants, pubs, bars.

Belarus

From 2008 to 2015, Belarusians occupied an honorable first place in terms of alcohol consumption in the world. In 2016, the ranking of countries changed slightly. Belarus has managed to reduce the amount of pure alcohol consumed per year to 15 liters. This happened thanks to an increase in alcohol prices, which were minimal, a fight against producers of low-quality drinks, as well as tougher penalties for drunk driving. What do they prefer to drink in Belarus? According to statistics, the population predominantly drinks strong alcohol (47%). Beer (17%) and wine (5%) are held in less esteem.

Latvia

Another Baltic country closes the top three. Here, according to statistics, the local population drinks on average about 12.8 liters of pure alcohol per year. Moreover, the trend towards leadership has emerged in Latvia quite recently. Just 5–10 years ago, less than 10 liters of alcohol were consumed in the country per year.

Latvians prefer beer when it comes to drinks. According to one study, they spend almost 100 euros a year on alcohol, and spend half as much on attending cultural events. In order to reduce the popularity of alcohol, the authorities banned its advertising back in 2014, but this did not lead to positive changes.

Russia and Poland shared fourth place

Based on the results for 2016, both countries consume close to 12.2 liters per capita. For Russia, fourth place is a kind of achievement. Over the past 10 years, the level of alcohol consumed has decreased by about 5 liters. But Poland, on the contrary, began to drink more. Her traditional drinks are vodka, various meads, and beer. In Russia, the population prefers strong alcohol.

Estonia

It closes the top five drinking countries. The level of 11 liters of alcohol per capita in Estonia is the lowest in the last ten years. The authorities managed to achieve a similar result by raising the excise tax. However, this did not stop some citizens; they simply began purchasing alcoholic beverages in Latvia, where prices are 3 times lower. As for the preferences of Estonians, they drink strong alcohol and beer at approximately the same level - 37 and 41%, respectively.

Europe vs Russia

Many people ask where they drink more alcohol, in Russia or in Europe? The statistics speak for themselves. Over the past decade, the situation with alcoholism in Russia has noticeably improved, but in Europe, on the contrary. However, the amount of pure ethanol consumed is not the only criterion that is important to consider when talking about the health of the nation. The culture of drinking alcoholic beverages, their quality and the therapeutic measures taken are of great importance. Thus, according to WHO data, it is in Russia and a number of other countries that were part of the USSR that the highest mortality rate from alcohol-related injuries is observed. They also lead in the frequency of deaths from cardiovascular diseases that develop from alcohol abuse.

But if Europe drinks more, why is Russia suffering? The point is the culture of consumption, cheap alcohol, and its availability, says WHO. In Europe, the population does not know what withdrawal syndrome is; it is not customary for them to celebrate until they pass out. They drink regularly, but in moderation.

Moreover, many countries, for example Norway, sell alcohol exclusively in specialized stores. Moreover, in some cities they work only for tourists.

In Sweden, alcohol is so expensive that it is cheaper to take a ferry to the Germans to get it. As for Germany and Italy, although they are large suppliers of beer and wine, they themselves do not abuse it, thanks to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and education of the younger generation about the dangers of alcohol.

You can clearly see the statistics of total alcohol consumption in the world on WHO maps. The latest such graphics are available for 2015. The results of 2017 will be summed up in 2018, presumably also in the spring.

The problem of alcoholism in the world has been acute for many years. More than 3 million people die annually from the consequences of alcohol abuse, which exceeds the number of deaths from AIDS.

Alcoholic beverages contribute to addiction and increase the risk of developing more than 200 diseases, including cirrhosis of the liver and some types of cancer. In addition, excessive drinking leads to violence and injury. The global average ethanol consumption is 6.2 liters. Moreover, every second person on the planet does not drink at all.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published a report in 2014 on alcohol consumption in the world (as of 2010), which provided data on how many liters of pure alcohol are consumed per year by residents of different countries over 15 years of age. Let's see who is in the top ten drinking countries in the world.

10 PHOTOS

10th place. Slovakia. Alcohol consumption by the average resident of this country in terms of pure alcohol is 13 liters, with average consumption in the European region being 10.9 liters. At the same time, the male population of Slovakia drinks 20.5 liters per person, the female population - 6.1 liters. (Photo: Renata Opprecht/flickr.com).

How much pure alcohol do alcoholic drinks contain, for example, wine with a strength of 13 degrees? 750 milliliters of this wine contains only 97.5 milliliters of pure alcohol. Now try to imagine how much of it you need to drink so that the average consumption in the country is like that of the “world record holder for alcohol consumption” or 17.5 liters of pure alcohol per year!?

Globally, alcohol currently claims more lives than HIV/AIDS, pneumonia and violence combined. In Belarus, the problem of alcoholism is acquiring truly catastrophic proportions; it affects almost every family. And the social and economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption become a heavy burden not only for an individual family, but also for the entire society. The only way to get rid of alcohol addiction is treatment. There are many methods of complex treatment of alcoholism, both medicinal and non-medicinal, as well as innovative programs, which can be found on netzavisimosti.by. Help your loved ones! Alcoholism is a disease that needs to be treated like any other!

Despite the high development of civilization, among the most drinking countries in the world in 2018, states with a low standard of living were not far behind. From this we can conclude that financial well-being does not play a decisive role in this matter. Every year the number of people with a morbid addiction to alcoholic beverages around the world is only growing.

The TOP 10 countries for strong drink lovers include developed European countries, but Russia, contrary to the stereotype, has noticeably moved away from the “prize” places. It’s sad that the age of people who try alcohol for the first time barely reaches 15 years, and after 16, the average rate of alcohol consumption by a young person per year is 6.2 liters. After analyzing research from the World Health Organization, we have compiled a list of the most drinking countries in the world 2018.

10. Ukraine

On Ukraine There are 12.8 liters of alcohol per person per year. The country's alcohol market is very poorly regulated, so the number of young people addicted to alcohol is increasing. The national drink is gorilka, whose history begins
from the 12th century. Gorilka (vodka) and beer are the most popular alcohols, with wine in third place. Ukrainians prefer to drink wines from domestic producers, mainly because of the affordable price compared to European brands. The global brand of Ukrainian alcoholic beverages is “Nemirov” and “Khortytsya”.

9.Belgium

The country is famous for its beer. Some varieties date back more than IV centuries. It is not surprising that the country was included in the ranking of the most drinking countries. The share of income that citizens spend on alcohol is 2.9%. For example, the average for the European Union is 1.6%. Alcohol consumption per person in Belgium is 13.2 liters.

8.Bulgaria

The eighth place in the ranking is taken by a country that is very popular among tourists. In Bulgaria, beaches occupy a significant area of ​​the country. The country has one of the lowest prices for alcohol and one of the lowest excise taxes. Perhaps if a country counted all the alcohol produced by its citizens, the country would rank higher. Alcohol consumption in Bulgaria is 13.6 liters per person.

7.Croatia

Back in 2016, the country occupied 4 places in the ranking, with a value of 12.8 liters. In 2018, the figure increased by more than 5% and amounted to 13.6 liters. Liqueur is one of the country's national drinks. Wine is very popular in the country; the share of consumption of this drink is 44.8%.

List of countries with the largest share of alcohol costs from average wages.

6. Czech Republic

The national drink is Becherovka. Inhabitant Czech Republic on average drinks 13.7 liters per year. strong drink. There is almost 160 liters of beer. per person Beer in this country is part of the culture; it has been brewed here for many centuries. The world-famous Czech brands Velkopopovicky Kozel, Radegast and Pilsner are classic beer varieties. There are many pubs here that sell draft beer, and in Prague there is a restaurant that is more than five centuries old! Here you will try Czech cuisine, various types of beer (dark, light, coffee, banana) and feel the atmosphere of the old Czech Republic. The state is actively investing in the wine industry. Czech wines are called Moravian because most of the vineyards grow in Moravia.

5.Romania

Famous for its beer and wine. The country has such factories as Murfatlar, Cotnari, Dragasani. The country is one of the largest wine exporters. The total alcohol consumption in the country is 13.7 liters. Beer in the country accounts for 50% of consumption, wine 28.9%.

4. Russia

At the end of 2018, alcohol consumption by the population decreased slightly, but the country still entered the top five most drinkers in the world. The average Russian drinks 13.9 liters per year. alcohol. Women consume half as much – 6.8 liters. The national drink is vodka. IN Russia greater preference is given to vodka and beer; the purely Russian habit of choosing “white” has spread to other post-Soviet states, such as Moldova, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. It is in these countries that a person is more inclined, when drinking alcohol, to reach a state of extreme intoxication, like as quickly as possible. Russia's inclusion in the ranking of the most drinking countries is largely due to the relatively low cost of alcohol, compared to Europe - $4 per half liter, and the low standard of living. Recently, the number of Russians who prefer wine to other alcoholic beverages has increased.

3. Moldova

The country is dominated by the consumption of strong alcoholic beverages; their share is 64.5%, which is one of the highest rates in the world. For example, in Russia the share of strong alcohol accounts for 51%. 15.9 liters is the average alcohol consumption in Moldova.

2. Belarus

Belarus- the most drinking country in the world in 2016-2017. In 2018, it lost its “leadership” to Lithuania. Here, each resident drinks on average 16.4 liters. alcohol per year. The indicator decreased by 1 liter compared to 2016-2017 data. Moreover, 47% of people prefer strong drinks, only 17% prefer beer, 32% prefer other alcohol, and very little wine – 4%. Women also like to drink, on average 7 liters. in year. These figures are official, but the real ones are presumably much higher, since data on moonshine brewing in conservative Belarus could not be obtained.

1.Lithuania

Lithuania was named the most drinking country in 2018. At the end of 2018, alcohol consumption in Lithuania amounted to 18.2 liters per person. The share of costs for alcohol is 4.2%. According to this parameter, the country is among the top three “leaders”

In the country, beer and strong alcohol are predominantly consumed, 46.5% and 34.1%, respectively. Against the backdrop of a significant increase in alcohol consumption, the country's authorities are taking measures aimed at reducing the sale of alcoholic beverages. Excise taxes on alcohol were sharply increased, and temporary restrictions on sales were introduced.

The table shows per capita alcohol consumption in the 10 countries with the highest levels.

There is not a single country in the world where alcohol is not consumed at all. Even where its sale is limited, citizens find ways to serve the “green serpent.” But of course, drinking alcohol becomes drunkenness only when the amount exceeds a reasonable limit. Which countries drink the most, according to the 2019 rankings?

World beer ranking in 2019 according to WHO

The World Health Organization (abbreviated as WHO) regularly conducts research related to the health of the planet's population and publishes ratings. The issue of alcoholism is no exception. According to the organization, alcohol is one of the three main reasons that directly or indirectly increase mortality. At the same time, in general, the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed per capita increases from year to year. Information on the amount of alcohol consumed comes to WHO from organizations that control its sale.

Table: statistics of drinking states at the beginning of 2019

Contrary to popular belief, large amounts of alcohol are not consumed because of poverty. This is evident from the above ranking, where only a small part of the places belongs to developing countries. According to WHO, indicators remain consistently high in a number of European countries. The reason for this is low employment and affordable alcohol in countries with a high standard of living. According to experts, every fifth resident of a developed country is a chronic alcoholic.

The leading countries in the ranking stand out from the overall picture both for the reasons for drunkenness and for its unexpected spread. In Ukraine, due to political changes and economic instability, the alcohol market is almost uncontrolled. These reasons serve to increase the number of people who drink. In Belarus, in recent years, the system of combating alcoholism that existed before has been practically eliminated. However, in mid-2018, the country’s government decided to launch a new large-scale anti-alcohol campaign.

The most drinking countries: statistics from the University of Washington and the Melissa Gates Foundation

Not only WHO conducts research: at the beginning of 2019, American scientists compiled their rating of alcohol lovers, which was published in the medical journal Lancet. Country data vary depending on the gender of the person drinking alcohol. The conventional unit of measurement became “drink” - 100 milliliters of red wine or 30 milliliters of strong alcohol.

On average around the world, representatives of the stronger sex drink 1.7 drinks per day, that is, 170 ml of wine or 51 ml of stronger alcohol. The first three places in terms of the amount of men's drinking are occupied by:

• Romania - 8.2 conventional drinks per day (820 ml of wine or 246 ml of strong alcohol);
• Portugal and Luxembourg - 7.2 drinks per day (720 ml of wine or 216 ml of strong alcohol);
• Lithuania and Ukraine - 7 drinks per day (700 ml of wine or 210 strong alcohol).

For women, the statistics are much more modest: on average, the beautiful ladies of the planet drink 0.73 drinks per day, which is equivalent to 73 ml of wine or 21.9 ml of strong alcohol. Dominant in the amount of alcohol consumed by women:

• Ukraine - 4.2 drinks per day (420 ml of wine or 126 ml of strong alcohol);
• Andorra, Luxembourg, Belarus - 3.4 drinks per day (340 ml of wine or 120 ml of strong alcohol);
• Sweden, Denmark, Ireland - 3.1 drinks per day (310 ml of wine or 93 ml of strong alcohol).

Interestingly, according to the University of Washington, the most sober men live in Pakistan, and women live in Iran.

The most drinking countries in the world are our neighbors and European countries. However, in Russia they still drink a lot. But residents of the American continents are not observed in excessive drinking.

There is a strong and established opinion that Russians are one of the heaviest drinking nations. But there is one stubborn and undeniable thing - these are numbers and statistical indicators. Before arguing and bringing an idea to the masses, you need to arm yourself with statistics. “Dry” data does not carry an emotional connotation; it only suggests arming yourself with the truth and comparing the current state of affairs.

Judging by the latest data obtained by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, alcohol consumption per capita in Russia is trending towards a steady decline. During the analysis, experts compared the results adopted in 2010 and 2015. How were things in 2016? Is there any reason for us to rejoice?

According to statistics, the amount of alcohol consumption in Russia is decreasing

According to accepted UN standards, per capita consumption of 8 liters of ethyl alcohol is an extremely alarming indicator. And not only for each person, but also for the entire certain nation. By the way, quite a large number of countries fall into the classification where this level is exceeded. In particular, according to the indicators for 2015, the rating of the highest drinkers was as follows:

The use of alcoholic beverages per capita in the Russian Federation fell from 13.6 liters (according to 2015 data) to 11.6 liters (according to statistical indicators as of December 2016).

So, given what the statistics of alcoholism in Russia show, Russians cannot be frivolously classified among the “heaviest drinkers”? If you study the obtained figures, it becomes clear that some of the countries with a developed culture overindulge in alcoholic beverages. And if they do not reach the “record” of our country, then the difference is practically unnoticeable.

Comparative characteristics of alcohol consumption in Russia and the USSR

Taking into account the results of previous statistical data, the WHO forecast for our country is quite favorable. In Russia there is a tendency towards a decrease in this unpleasant figure. So is there a reason to rejoice? There is, but, unfortunately, very small.

We keep on abusing

No matter how you juggle the obtained figures or compare them to one degree or another, Russians drink alcohol quite heavily. According to available indicators, on average, due to the abuse of alcohol-containing products in the Russian Federation, mortality ranges from 75-85,000 for every 100,500 people. That is, we can say, counting how many alcoholics there are in Russia, that every year each of the 1,400 Russian citizens dies from alcohol abuse.

This figure is not small, considering the size of our country and the number of people living in it. It is important to know that people dependent on alcohol and suffering from alcoholism have no chance of living well into old age, because according to the same statistics, among them:

1. 60.70% will die from pancreatitis.
2. 62.10% will commit suicide.
3. 68.7% will die as a result of liver cirrhosis.
4. 24.5% will die due to diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Reasons that push people to drink alcohol

By studying the data provided by statistics on alcohol consumption in Russia and comparing them with indicators in other countries, we can conclude that the problem of drunkenness is relevant for almost all world, developed countries. What global causes are to blame for this state of affairs?

Active urbanization

Experts say that urbanization is becoming one of the main culprits in the rapid development of alcoholism. It gave rise to a sharp increase in the population of cities, due to the outflow of residents from villages and villages. Historical facts show that having exchanged a quiet and measured rural life for the dynamics of large cities, most people cannot cope with growing stress and go into drunken tranquility.

Urbanization is one of the reasons for the rise in alcoholism

Disasters and social problems

Additionally and quite strongly, the growth of alcoholism in Russia was intensified by economic crises, disasters, and the growing threat of using weapons of mass destruction. By the way, in the realities of the Cold War, against the backdrop of an impending nuclear disaster, a significant increase in the growth of alcoholism was noted. Other social problems also contributed. In particular, rising unemployment.

In the Russian Federation, the unemployment rate is 5.6%, while in the European Union these figures are about 12%, which stimulates an increase in alcohol consumption. Here you can look at US indicators taken in 2013. The country's authorities were able to reduce the unemployment rate from 9.5 to 5.4%. This also caused a pronounced tendency towards a decrease in the total amount of alcohol consumption.

Social problems

As for Russia, the increase in the number of drinkers can be explained by the fact that over the previous 25-30 years our country has experienced a huge number of shocks in:

• social;
• economic;
• political level.

The merciless collapse of the huge, super-powerful state that was the USSR provoked the global destruction of all the values ​​and internal worldview of our citizens that had been established over the years. The growth of alcoholism intensified due to the fact that a different worldview and values ​​(at that time) were never established. The population, which has lost protection at the social level, has seen a sharp increase in poverty levels.

According to statistical results, about 10% of Russian citizens face constant difficulties with good and nutritious nutrition.

And the decrease in price increases for alcohol-containing products, which was observed during the collapse of the Union, also stimulated a sharp increase in alcoholism. People, having lost their jobs and seeing no way out of their current situation, turned to alcohol for solace.

Consequences of alcohol addiction in the realities of the country

According to established UN standards, it is believed that alcohol consumption of more than 8 liters per capita annually is an extremely serious indicator. When this line is crossed, the gradual degradation of an individual nation will begin. Alcoholism leads to decreased life expectancy.

In Russia, life expectancy is trending upward

If we compare the average life expectancy, in Russia it is 10-15 years less compared to the countries of the European Union.

What should we expect?

Consumption of alcohol-containing products among residents of our country tends to decline. This is evidenced by the statistics of alcohol consumption in Russia by year; in particular, armed with data from Rosstat and WHO, we can see confirmation of this. Compare how the volume of alcoholic beverages sold to Russians changed. The figures are taken for the period of the first half of the year (January-August):

1. 2014: 72.3 million deciliters.
2. 2015: 65.5 million deciliters (-7.4%).
3. 2016: 64.7 million deciliters (-1.3%).

To complete the picture, you can also arm yourself with statistics obtained by various public funds and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. So:

Ratio of non-drinkers and drinkers

Foundation "Public Opinion". Statistics were carried out at the end of 2015:

• 42% drink alcohol several times annually;
• 37% of Russians lead a completely sober lifestyle;
• 19% drink 2-3 times monthly;
• 12% drink strong alcohol 3-4 times weekly.

Analytical center "Levada Center". The survey was conducted in 2017:

• 40% of our citizens do not drink alcohol at all;
• 38% drink several times a month;
• 22% relax with alcoholic drinks weekly.

Fall in consumption of alcoholic beverages

Ministry of Health of Russia. Based on the data obtained, the following trend is observed:

• in 2015, there was a drop in alcohol consumption (per capita) from 13.6 liters to 11.7 liters;
• over the current decade (data as of December 2016), this level has decreased from 18.2 l to 10.4 l.

Narcological Scientific and Practical Center (Moscow). Consumption of alcohol-containing products in the period from 2011 to 2016. decreased by almost 1/3. That is, from the original 18 liters per capita it fell to 12.8 liters per year.

Reducing the growth of strong alcohol consumption

During the period 2012-2015. Vodka production in our country has decreased by almost 2 times. In particular:

1. The year 2013 was marked (for the first time in the history of the Russian Federation) by a sharp, almost double, consumption of vodka. The share of use of this intoxicating drink has decreased by 50% compared to 1995.
2. In 2014, the share of vodka consumption was 45%, wine - 11%, beer - 41%, the rest was accounted for by other alcohol-containing drinks.

Reducing the amount of alcohol intoxication

In the period from 2003-2013. The number of deaths due to poisoning from alcohol-containing drinks in Russia has decreased by almost 3 times. In 2003 this number was 30 deaths per 100,000, but in 2013 this figure varied by 10 cases.

Reducing the amount of alcohol produced in the Russian Federation

The production of vodka, due to the fall in its demand, tends to a steady decline. For example, in 2012, about 100 million deciliters of strong alcohol were produced. Whereas in 2015 this volume decreased to 60 million deciliters. If we consider beer production, then the picture is quite rosy: its production is also falling: from 11.5 billion liters (2007) to 7.3 billion liters (2015).