Noah Vinter
Alcohol consumption is a worldwide phenomenon, but some countries have higher-than-average drinking rates. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to various health complications, including adverse effects on the heart, liver, and an increased risk of certain cancers. While moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to heart health, the health risks associated with alcohol consumption outweigh the benefits. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published global estimates of alcohol consumption per capita, with the latest data from 2019 showing Romania as the country with the highest alcohol consumption per person. Other countries with high alcohol consumption rates include Georgia, Czechia, Latvia, Germany, Ireland, Poland, and the United States. Factors such as laws, culture, and religion influence alcohol consumption patterns across different countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country with the highest rate of alcohol consumption | Belarus |
| Country with the highest rate of alcohol consumption (alternative source) | Moldova |
| Country with the highest consumption of spirits | Russia |
| Average alcohol consumption worldwide | 5.5 liters a year |
| Average alcohol consumption worldwide (alternative source) | 5.8 liters |
| Average alcohol consumption in the United States | 9.97 liters |
| Average alcohol consumption in Czechia | 14.6 liters |
| Average alcohol consumption in Czechia for women | 6.9 liters |
| Average alcohol consumption in Czechia for men | 22.0 liters |
| Average alcohol consumption in Latvia in 2010 | 9.8 liters |
| Average alcohol consumption in Latvia in 2021 | 13.09 liters |
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What You'll Learn
Belarus consumes the most alcohol per capita
Alcoholic beverages are a staple of nearly every culture on Earth, except those whose religion restricts alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption varies from country to country and is influenced by factors such as laws, culture, and religion. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Belarus is the country that consumes the most alcohol per capita.
Belarus, a small landlocked country in Eastern Europe, has the highest consumption of pure alcohol per person each year. The WHO's Global Status Report on Alcohol, published in May, revealed that Belarusians aged 15 and over drink an average of 17.5 litres of pure alcohol per person annually, with Belarusian men consuming up to 27.5 litres per person. This is significantly higher than the global average of 6.2 litres per person. While the Belarusian government was quick to deny these statistics, it has implemented national anti-alcohol programs to address the issue.
The high alcohol consumption in Belarus has had socio-economic impacts, with experts estimating a cost of 7.2% of the country's GDP. The government has cautiously introduced anti-alcohol policies, including banning low-quality fruit wines, increasing penalties for drunk driving, restricting alcohol advertising, and considering raising the legal drinking age.
Belarus is not alone in its high alcohol consumption. Other Eastern European countries like Moldova, Lithuania, Russia, and Romania are also among the top five alcohol-consuming nations. Russia, in particular, is known for its high consumption of spirits, with an average of 326 servings per person in a single year. These countries have been classified as having some of the riskiest drinking patterns, which contribute to a higher number of years of life lost to alcohol.
While the United States ranked 39th in annual consumption per person with 9.97 litres, it is important to note that consumption varies by state. Additionally, countries like Turkmenistan have a significant gender disparity in alcohol consumption, with men drinking more than five times the amount consumed by women.
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Latvia has seen a sharp increase in alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption varies greatly from country to country and is influenced by factors such as laws, culture, and religion. While the United States ranked 39th in global alcohol consumption in 2019, with 9.97 litres of pure alcohol consumed per person, it is European countries that generally have the highest per capita consumption, and Middle Eastern countries that have the lowest.
Latvia is among the European countries with the highest alcohol consumption per capita. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that total per capita alcohol consumption in Latvia is 12.9 litres, well above the average of the WHO European region, which is the heaviest alcohol-consuming region globally. Over half (59%) of alcohol users over 15 years of age in Latvia, and over two-thirds (72.7%) of alcohol-using youth between 15 and 19 years, engage in binge drinking.
The history of alcohol use in Latvia is long and complex. Pubs, for example, have existed in Latvia since the 13th and 14th centuries, becoming widespread by the 19th century. During the five decades of Soviet rule, Soviet ideology contributed to the cultural homogenisation of excessive alcohol consumption patterns, with spirits being the most popular drink. After regaining independence in 1991, Latvia underwent significant political and economic changes, including rapid GDP growth from 2000 to 2007. However, alcohol-related mortality also increased during this period of economic expansion.
Latvia has implemented various alcohol control policies over the past three decades, particularly during the transitional period between independence in 1991 and joining the European Union in 2004. These policies aimed to reduce alcohol availability and affordability, restrict alcohol marketing, and counter drunk driving. In 2001, Latvia adopted its first Public Health Strategy, with a goal to reduce alcohol consumption among those aged 15 and above. The State Program for Reduction of Alcohol Consumption and Alcoholism was enacted in 2015 to address issues such as alcohol availability, demand, and harmful consumption.
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Czechia's average alcohol consumption is high, with men drinking 22 litres per year
Alcohol is consumed worldwide, but some countries have higher-than-average drinking rates. The average global rate of consumption per person is 5.5 litres of pure alcohol a year, although this has decreased from 5.7 litres in 2010.
The country with the highest rate of alcohol consumption has been dubbed the "Drunkest Country on Earth", and this is Belarus, with an average of 14.4 litres of pure alcohol consumed per person per year. Brazil, Belize, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Moldova, Peru, Mexico, and Mongolia all consumed less than half of Belarus' average yearly consumption.
Russia is the only country to be labelled as having the riskiest drinking patterns, with an average of 326 servings of spirits per person in a single year.
Other countries with high alcohol consumption rates include Ireland, Germany, Poland, Laos, and the Czech Republic. Known for its beer, the Czech Republic, or Czechia, has a combined average alcohol consumption of 14.6 litres per person per year. However, this figure is made up of averages of 6.9 litres for women and 22 litres for men.
The consumption of alcohol in each country varies and is influenced by factors such as laws, culture, and religion.
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Russia has the riskiest drinking patterns
Alcohol consumption varies greatly across the world and is influenced by a country's laws, culture, and other characteristics. While there is no definitive ranking of countries by alcohol consumption, Russia has been identified as one of the top alcohol-consuming countries, with drinking being a pervasive and socially acceptable behaviour in Russian society.
Russia has a serious problem with hazardous drinking, which has been defined as the consumption of homemade, unofficially made alcohol and non-beverage liquids. This type of drinking accounts for a high proportion of alcohol-related deaths in the country. The consumption of so-called "samogon" or homemade alcohol has been demonstrated as one of the riskiest types of alcohol consumption due to its high concentration of methanol and other impurities, which can cause severe damage to the kidneys and lead to toxic hepatitis.
The pattern of generally increasing mortality rates from west to east in Russia has been associated with the country's overall socioeconomic development. Research has shown that alcohol plays a significant role in this pattern, especially for external causes of death such as homicide and suicide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that the proportion of disease and disability attributable to alcohol in Eastern Europe is the highest in the world, with Russia appearing to have the worst problems.
The high levels of per capita consumption, a pattern of binge drinking, and a preference for distilled spirits likely exacerbate the public health consequences of alcohol in Russia. Studies have estimated that the increase in alcohol consumption since 1987 has caused an additional three million deaths nationwide, with alcohol use disorder being the result of 52% of deaths of people between the ages of 15 and 54 in three Siberian industrial towns. The hazardous drinking culture in Russia has disproportionately affected men, with Russian males born in 2006 having a life expectancy of just over 60 years, 17 years fewer than their Western European counterparts.
To address the issue of hazardous drinking, Russia has implemented various anti-alcoholism measures since the early 2000s, including banning sales at night, raising taxes, and prohibiting alcohol advertising. These policies have successfully reduced alcohol consumption to levels comparable with European Union averages.
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Moldova's wine industry contributes to its high alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption varies greatly between countries and is influenced by factors such as culture, laws, and religion. European countries tend to have the highest per capita alcohol consumption, while countries in the Middle East tend to have the lowest due to religious restrictions. Worldwide consumption in 2019 was 5.5 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years or older, while the United States consumed 9.97 litres per person in the same year.
Moldova, a small landlocked country in Europe, is known for its wine industry and has a long history of grape-growing and wine production. Moldovan wine has gained international recognition, with the country being the 14th largest wine producer globally and boasting the highest number of vines per capita worldwide. Wine has been a chief export of Moldova for centuries, particularly to Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. The country has four main wine-growing regions, with the southern area being the most important for red sweet and semi-sweet wines.
The Moldovan wine industry contributes significantly to the country's high alcohol consumption. Wine is deeply rooted in Moldova's culture and history, with grape-growing flourishing as early as the 15th century during the kingdom of Stephen the Great. Moldovan wines gained international fame in the 18th century with varieties like Negru de Purcari, which is made from the traditional Rară Neagră grape. The country's wine industry experienced setbacks due to conflicts with Russia, its largest importer, resulting in embargoes in 2006 and 2013. However, Moldova has since recovered by improving wine quality and seeking alternative export markets, primarily in European Union countries.
The reputation of Moldovan wine has been enhanced by international exposure, including features in media such as Jack Whitehall's "Travels With My Father." The country has invested in its wine industry, focusing on quality rather than quantity, and has attracted attention from wine enthusiasts worldwide. Moldova's wine cellars, such as those at Milestii Mici, are renowned for their vast collections, contributing to the country's wine culture and attracting tourism. The combination of tradition, improvement in quality, and international recognition of Moldovan wine has likely influenced its consumption within the country, making it a significant contributor to Moldova's overall alcohol consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Russia consumes the most alcohol in the world, with 16.8 litres per person per year.
After Russia, Greece is the second-highest consumer of alcohol, with 14.4 litres per person per year. Lesotho is third, with 12.9 litres, and Bulgaria is fourth, with 11.92 litres.
Alcohol consumption is influenced by a country's laws, culture, and other characteristics. Generally, European countries have the highest consumption per capita, while Middle Eastern countries have the lowest, influenced by religious views.
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