Mason Delacroix
Alcohol-related harm is a leading cause of global deaths, with almost 2.8 million early deaths per year. Alcohol consumption is causally linked to over 200 diseases and health conditions, including liver disease, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and injuries. While alcohol-related deaths in the EU have decreased slightly from 2011 to 2020, the EU is the heaviest-drinking area in the world, with seven of the top ten countries with the highest per-capita alcohol consumption located within the EU. This article explores which European country has the most alcohol-related deaths and the factors contributing to this issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| European country with the most alcohol-related deaths | Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus |
| Number of deaths per 100,000 people due to alcohol in the EU in 2020 | 3.6 |
| Countries with notably high rates within the EU in 2020 | Slovenia (17.3), Poland (10.1), Denmark (7.3), Croatia (6.5), Austria, and Latvia (both 6.2) |
| Countries with the lowest rates in the EU in 2020 | Greece, Italy, Malta (0.4), Spain, and Cyprus (0.5) |
| Leading causes of alcohol-related deaths in the EU | Cancer, cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, digestive diseases, injuries, and suicide |
| Global deaths due to alcohol abuse | Over 3 million per year |
| Alcohol-related deaths in the US | Increasing for both men and women |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol-related deaths in Europe are high
Several European countries have particularly high rates of alcohol-attributable deaths per 100,000 people, including Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, Slovenia (17.3), Poland (10.1), Denmark (7.3), Croatia (6.5), Austria, and Latvia (6.2). These rates highlight the significant impact of alcohol consumption on public health in Europe.
Alcohol consumption is a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injuries, including liver diseases, road injuries, violence, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, suicides, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. The risk of developing these diseases or dying from them increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Alcohol dependence, the most severe form of alcohol use disorder (AUD), poses a substantial risk of premature death.
The WHO has identified several intervention strategies to address the high rates of alcohol-related deaths in Europe, including increasing taxes on alcohol, restricting its availability, and banning its marketing. These strategies aim to reduce overall alcohol consumption and mitigate the social and economic costs associated with alcohol-related conditions, accidents, injuries, and premature deaths.
While there has been some progress in reducing alcohol consumption and related harms in Europe, the region continues to face challenges. The high rates of alcohol-related deaths in specific countries and the overall trend of excessive drinking in Europe underscore the need for continued efforts to address alcohol-related harm and reduce its impact on public health.
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Cancer is the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths in the EU
Alcohol-related deaths remain at a high level across European countries, with the highest rates of alcohol-attributable deaths per 100,000 people in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. According to Eurostat data from 2011 to 2020, alcohol-related deaths in the EU decreased slightly, with a standardised death rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It causes at least seven types of cancer, including common cancers such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer. The risk of developing cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed, and even light and moderate drinking can cause half of all alcohol-attributable cancers.
The link between alcohol consumption and cancer is not widely known among the public in most countries. Existing studies show gaps in public knowledge, and there is a lack of systematic appraisal. For example, an online survey in 14 European countries found that only 53% of participants recognised the causal role of alcohol in cancer, compared to 90% for liver disease and 68% for heart disease.
To address this public health issue, experts recommend increasing taxes on alcohol, restricting its availability, and banning its marketing and advertisement. These population-level measures aim to reduce alcohol consumption and decrease the cancer burden in the EU.
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Alcohol dependence and mental health
Alcohol misuse has been linked to a variety of serious health issues, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, liver disease, and cancer. It can also lead to social problems such as relationship issues, unemployment, financial strain, and homelessness, all of which can negatively impact one's mental health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union's statistics agency, Eurostat, alcohol-related deaths remain high across European countries. In 2020, the EU's standardized death rate from alcohol-related disorders was 3.6 per 100,000 people, with notable variations among member states. Slovenia, Poland, Denmark, Croatia, Austria, and Latvia had the highest rates, while Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Cyprus had the lowest.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) often co-occurs with other mental health disorders, and the treatment approach depends on the severity of each condition. Primary care providers are crucial in identifying these conditions and making informed decisions about patient referrals to specialists. When AUD and psychiatric disorders co-occur, addressing the AUD component first can improve psychiatric symptoms. However, quitting drinking alone may not be sufficient to reduce alcohol consumption or AUD symptoms. Treatment for co-occurring psychiatric disorders may need to be addressed simultaneously or prioritized based on patient needs and available clinical resources.
The cycle of alcohol dependence can be challenging to break. Alcohol reduces neurotransmitters in the brain, but people may drink more to relieve feelings of anxiety and depression, which can be induced or exacerbated by alcohol consumption. This can lead to a cycle of dependence, where one drinks to alleviate negative feelings, only to experience further mental health issues as a result. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol dependence and mental health issues, it is important to seek help. General practitioners can provide advice and support and refer individuals to local services, such as NHS alcohol addiction support services in the UK.
To address alcohol-related harm, public health interventions are crucial. The WHO has identified three key strategies: increasing taxes on alcohol, restricting its availability, and banning its marketing. Implementing these strategies can help reduce alcohol consumption and the associated health risks. Additionally, introducing a minimum price per alcohol unit has proven effective in reducing consumption and alcohol-attributable deaths. While alcohol consumption has been decreasing in parts of Europe, particularly in the eastern region, some Western European countries have seen consumption levels remain stable or even increase.
Mental health disorders that co-occur with alcohol use disorder can present unique challenges. The severity of each disorder, the timing and intensity of alcohol use, and the presence of psychosocial stressors all influence treatment approaches. Treating co-occurring psychiatric disorders can be complex, and addressing the AUD component may take precedence to improve overall mental health outcomes. However, it is important to recognize that alcohol dependence and mental health issues are often interconnected, and comprehensive treatment plans should consider both aspects for the best chance of recovery.
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Alcohol-related harm is a major public health issue
Alcohol-related harm is a significant public health issue, with alcohol consumption linked to over 200 health conditions, including liver disease, road injuries, violence, cancer, cardiovascular disease, suicide, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. The relative risk of suicide for individuals with alcohol dependence is around ten times higher than for those without. The total per-capita alcohol consumption of a country is closely related to the prevalence of alcohol-related harm, including alcohol use disorders (AUDs). AUDs encompass a range of conditions where drinking causes harm to physical or mental health or leads to serious problems in daily life. Alcohol dependence, sometimes referred to as "alcoholism," is the most severe form of AUD.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol abuse causes over three million deaths annually and is the seventh leading risk factor for death globally. Alcohol is one of the world's largest risk factors for premature death, with alcohol consumption causing almost 2.8 million early deaths each year. In the WHO European Region, more than one in eleven adults experience AUDs, and alcohol consumption patterns directly impact the prevalence of AUDs. The EU, comprising around half of the WHO European Region by population, is the heaviest-drinking area in the world, with seven of the top ten countries with the highest per-capita alcohol consumption located within the EU.
While there has been progress in reducing alcohol consumption and related harms in the EU, the region continues to face challenges, particularly with high rates of alcohol-related deaths. Cancer is the leading cause of alcohol-attributable deaths in the EU, constituting a third of such deaths. Eastern Europe generally exhibits higher alcohol-related death rates than North Africa and the Middle East. According to Eurostat data from 2011 to 2020, alcohol-related deaths due to malignant neoplasms, liver disease, and mental disorders decreased slightly. However, the overall EU standardised death rate from disorders related to alcohol use increased from 3.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2011 to 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. Notably, Slovenia had the highest rate of 17.3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Poland with 10.1.
To address alcohol-related harm, the WHO has identified several intervention strategies, including increasing taxes on alcohol, restricting its availability, and banning its marketing. These strategies are included in the European framework for action on alcohol (2022-2025), which aims to address alcohol-related harms through comprehensive policies and collaborative efforts. The framework focuses on six priority areas: pricing, health information with a focus on alcohol labelling, health services' response, availability, marketing, and community action. Additionally, primary and secondary prevention methods, such as brief interventions from general practitioners or hospitals, can help individuals recognise risky drinking behaviours.
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Strategies to reduce alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol-related deaths are a significant issue in Europe, with Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus having the highest rates of alcohol-attributable deaths per 100,000 people. While the overall alcohol consumption in Europe has been decreasing, alcohol-related deaths remain high across European countries. Here are some strategies that can help reduce alcohol-related deaths:
Public Health Policies and Interventions: Governments should implement public policies and interventions that are guided by public health interests and based on clear goals and scientific evidence. This includes addressing the wider social determinants of health and focusing on high-impact, cost-effective interventions. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified three intervention strategies: increasing taxes on alcohol, restricting its availability, and banning its marketing.
Increasing Alcohol Taxation and Pricing: Raising the prices of alcoholic beverages through taxation is a proven and cost-effective measure to reduce harmful alcohol consumption. It not only reduces alcohol-related deaths but also provides additional revenue for governments to offset the economic costs associated with alcohol-related harm.
Restricting Availability and Marketing of Alcohol: Implementing laws, policies, and programs that restrict the commercial and public availability of alcohol can help reduce easy access, especially for young people and other vulnerable groups. This includes limiting the number of places that sell alcohol, the days and hours when it can be sold, and banning its marketing.
Health Education and Interventions: Health professionals play a crucial role in helping people reduce or stop their drinking to mitigate health risks. Brief interventions from general practitioners or hospitals can be effective in preventing excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, raising awareness about the risks associated with alcohol consumption and promoting health education can empower individuals to make informed choices and take action to protect themselves from alcohol-related harm.
Improving Treatment and Support: It is essential to achieve universal health coverage for individuals living with alcohol use disorders. This includes strengthening health system responses and developing comprehensive and accessible systems for treatment and support. The SAFER initiative by WHO, for instance, aims to facilitate access to screening, conduct brief interventions, and provide treatment to patients affected by hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders.
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Frequently asked questions
According to age-standardised data from the latest Global Burden of Disease Study, the countries with the highest rates of alcohol-attributable deaths per 100,000 people in Europe are Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Alcohol consumption is causally linked to over 200 health conditions, including liver disease, road injuries, violence, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, suicides, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
The WHO European Region has implemented several initiatives and frameworks to address alcohol-related harm, such as the European framework for action on alcohol (2022-2025), which focuses on pricing, health information, health services' response, availability, marketing, and community action. Additionally, strategies like increasing alcohol taxes, regulating availability, and limiting alcohol marketing are also being explored.
