EU tops world drinking charts

More alcohol is consumed in Europe than any part of the world, according to new research from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The European Commission-funded report shows that the highest levels of alcohol consumption occur in central-eastern and eastern Europe, where the average adult consumes 14.5 litres of pure alcohol each year.

This compares with 12.4 litres in central-western and western Europe; 11.2 litres in southern Europe; and 10.4 litres in Nordic countries.

Levels of alcohol consumption have also been increasing over time in the Nordic countries and eastern Europe, despite falling in western and southern Europe.

Zsuzsanna Jakab, the WHO’s regional director for Europe, said it was Europe’s “dubious honour” of having double the global average alcohol consumption.

The report found a different picture when it analysed this data against hazardous drinking – such as drinking outside mealtimes and binge drinking.

In this context, Nordic countries have a score of 2.8 – in a range where 1 is least detrimental and 5 is most detrimental – while central-eastern and eastern Europe scored only slightly higher at 2.9.

central-western and western Europe and southern Europe had hazardous drinking scores of 1.5 and 1.1 respectively.