A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) says 2.6 million alcohol-related deaths occurred worldwide in 2019, with Europe having the highest death toll.
Dr Vladimir Pozniak, head of the WHO’s department of alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviour, told a news conference that despite being 2.5 per cent down since 2010, the numbers were still “unacceptably high”.
Approximately 400 million people worldwide suffer from alcohol use disorder, which can increase the risk of diseases such as cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as injuries and other health problems.
Europe’s alcohol-related death rate, at 52.9 per 100,000 people, was the highest in the world, just ahead of Africa’s 52.2 per 100,000 people. The region’s rate of alcohol use disorder, at 10.7 percent, was the highest in the world but has been declining in recent years.
Europeans also lead the world in daily alcohol consumption, consuming an average of 9.2 litres of alcohol per person per year, compared with the global average of 5.5 litres. Seven of the top 10 countries in terms of per capita alcohol consumption are in the EU.
Rates of alcohol use disorders are decreasing in the Americas and the Western Pacific region, while they are increasing in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia.
As part of its Sustainable Development Goals, the WHO aims to reduce excessive drinking, especially among teenagers, by 20% from 2010 levels by 2030, but has not set specific targets for countries.
Access to treatment for substance use disorders remains a major challenge globally, with treatment rates in the countries surveyed varying widely from less than 1% to 35%.
Furthermore, disparities exist within countries, with alcohol-related deaths occurring primarily in men and substance use disorders being more prevalent among people of lower socioeconomic status.
“Stigma, discrimination and misconceptions about the effectiveness of treatment contribute to significant gaps in treatment delivery and the continued low priority given to drug use disorders among health and development agencies,” Vladimir Pozniak added in his speech.
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