The most sober countries in the world. Rating of the most drinking countries in the world. A sober share is a heavy burden
Before moving on to statistics, it is worth understanding what exactly makes people drink. Here are the main reasons:
- Urbanization. People who cannot cope with the stress of the fast pace of life in the big city are increasingly relaxing over a glass of liquor.
- Economic, political and social problems, as well as natural disasters. Modern man, without realizing it, is in constant fear for his life and well-being. As a rule, alcohol is used as a sedative.
- Low alcohol prices. Due to the illiterate government policy in the field of price control, alcohol becomes affordable. Probably everyone has heard the life anecdote that a bottle of beer costs less than a bottle of milk.
Top 10 most drinking countries
So, in 2017, Lithuanians took the unhonorable first place in alcoholism, overtaking the leader of the list of the most drinking countries of last year - Belarus. But this is due to a decrease in the consumption of a liter of absolute alcohol per Belarusian soul, and not because Lithuania suddenly began to drink too much. The world's heaviest drinker consumes more than 16 liters of pure alcohol per year, although 12 liters is considered critical, exceeding which leads to
degradation of the nation.
Second place is taken by Belarus, consuming just under 16 liters of ethanol per capita per year. However, some experts believe that it is worth awarding the second place to Moldova, where winemaking is highly developed and a large amount of unrecorded alcohol is drunk.
The third place is shared by two more of our neighbors, Ukraine and Estonia, which have approximately the same consumption figures. One of the reasons for alcoholism in both countries is considered by experts to be the rather low cost of strong drinks and their wide availability. The authorities are trying to fight the addiction, but so far to no avail.
The fourth place is unexpectedly taken by Andorra, which has extremely low prices for any alcoholic products.
Fifth place goes to the Czechs for a reason, because the national drink in their country is beer, which begins to be abused from the age of 15. In fact, in the Czech Republic, beer is not considered alcohol, although its detrimental effect on the body, especially in large quantities, has long been known. On average, each Czech drinks more than a hundred liters of beer a year, which is an absolute world record. Closest to the Czech Republic is Uganda, but its beer consumption rate is 25 liters less.
In sixth place on the list of the most drinking countries are the Germans with their legendary schnapps and, of course, beer festivals, which attract beer connoisseurs from all over the world.
The next country, ranked seventh in the alcohol charts, is Ireland, which actively consumes not only the world-famous Guinness, but also other, stronger drinks.
Eighth place was shared by Spain and Portugal, lovers of cool wine and beer in the midday heat. The Spaniards know a lot about wine, most of the wine varieties around the world are grown here. And the Portuguese are not far behind in the alcohol race due to their favorite national drink, port wine.
The ninth place goes to the masters of winemaking Hungarians. The wine in this country is quite good and inexpensive, which makes it possible to enjoy in decent quantities.
No, no one has forgotten about Russia, but it is nice to note that our country closes the top ten alcohol leaders, and does not lead it, although five to seven years ago our country was consistently in the top three, and Russians were considered the most drinking people in the world. The preferences remained the same, vodka and beer are still considered the favorite alcoholic drinks of Russians, but consumption has decreased over five years by almost 3.5 liters of ethanol per capita, and this is a very serious indicator.
Russia
In 2017-2018, the consumption of alcohol by the population decreased slightly, but the country still entered the ranking of the most drinkers in the world. The average Russian drinks 15.1 liters per year.
alcohol. Women consume half as much - 7.8 liters.
According to UN statistics, in 2015 the volume of alcohol consumed per capita per year in our country amounted to 13.5 liters. The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation claims that in 2017 the overall level of consumption of alcoholic beverages decreased - compared to the same year 2015, the volume of consumption decreased by 2 liters.
Analyzing the data of previous years, the ministry states that there is a situation of a steady downward trend in the level of alcohol consumption. This fact cannot but rejoice.
However, alcohol is still consumed in our country. And they still do it in large numbers. Alcoholism in Russia affects 3.4% of the population, and only half of this number is registered in narcological dispensaries.
If we talk about the stages of alcoholism, then the majority of the population are moderate drinkers. There are 68% of them. Another 10% suffer from stage 1 alcoholism, 5% - stage 2, 0.5% - stage 3. The remaining 16.5% do not drink alcohol at all.
The problem of female alcoholism for Russia is also relevant. According to statistics, for every 10 male alcoholics, there are 3-4 women suffering from alcoholism. Alcohol abuse among teenagers also occurs. In Russia, there are 25,000 registered adolescents suffering from the 1st stage of alcohol dependence.
At the end of 2017, alcohol consumption by the population decreased slightly, but the country still entered the top five drinkers in the world. The average Russian drinks 15.1 liters per year. alcohol. Women consume half as much - 7.8 liters.
The national drink is vodka. In Russia, preference is given to vodka and beer, a 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, drinking alcohol, to reach a state of extreme intoxication , as soon as possible.
Recently, the number of Russians who prefer wine to other alcoholic beverages has increased.
But it was Russia that turned out to be the first below the line of winners. Unfortunately, Russians do not drink too much wine, but they make up for its lack with beer and vodka. Although, according to researchers, the percentage of the population inclined specifically to the use of wines is gradually growing.
Alcohol consumption in Russia is about 15 liters per person. The main share falls on vodka.
Second is beer. Russia's inclusion in the rating of drinking countries is also caused by the price of alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks are many times cheaper than, for example, in Europe. Fortunately, thanks to government policy, the population's craving for alcohol is gradually decreasing.
There is also a growing interest of the population in quality wine, which is less detrimental to health than vodka.
Alcohol consumption: 10.12 liters of alcohol per person per year
For three years now, the country has seen a trend towards a decrease in the consumption of alcoholic beverages by the population.
Which countries can be called the most drinking in the world
This ranking of countries by the number of alcohol per capita is compiled by WHO on the basis of an official survey of different population groups. Below are ten countries that are among the most drinkers. The list of countries by alcohol consumption per person is as follows.
1st place - Republic of Belarus
In the first place in terms of the amount of alcohol consumed is Belarus - the most drinking country in the world. According to statistical studies, in this state, there are 17.5 liters of alcohol per inhabitant of the country. In this case, the first line is occupied by strong alcohol. More than 47.5 percent of drinkers prefer it. The second position is occupied by beer products. The average age of drinkers in this country ranges from 18 to 35 years.
Lithuania turned out to be the country with the highest alcohol consumption per capita. On average, Lithuanians drink 12.3 liters of alcohol per year. This is stated in the November rating of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation.
It was followed by Austria (11.8 liters) and France (11.7). The five anti-leaders are closed by the Czech Republic (11.6 liters) and Luxembourg (11.3 liters).
Russia shares sixth place with Hungary with 11.1 liters per capita.
Seventh place was shared by Latvia and Ireland, whose residents consume an average of 11.2 liters of alcohol.
Eighth place in the organization was awarded to consumers in Germany (10.8 liters), ninth - Portugal (10.7 liters), tenth - Poland (10.6 liters).
Indonesia was recognized as the most non-drinker, more precisely, a low drinker - 0.3 liters per person.
Relatively modest volumes of alcohol per capita are found in Turkey (1.4 liters), Israel (2.6 liters), India (3.0 liters) and Costa Rica (3.8 liters).
Needs no comments?
Based on the rankings, per capita alcohol consumption declined between 2007 and 2017 in almost all countries surveyed. Alcohol consumption in Russia is also decreasing, but the number of deaths from alcohol poisoning is increasing.
In the first half of this year, alcohol poisoning rose by 21.1% compared to the same period last year. More than 3.9 thousand people have died. A year ago, this figure was 3.2 thousand.
At the same time, Moscow topped the rating of Russian regions in terms of the number of primary diseases with mental disorders caused by alcohol use. In 2018, 2.8 thousand patients with diagnoses of this kind, including alcohol dependence syndrome, were recorded in the capital. In total, in 2018, 75.7 thousand patients with alcohol-related mental disorders were registered in Russia.
According to Deputy Minister of Health Oleg Salagay, if she had compiled her report based on the data of 2018, and not 2017, then Russia would not have been included in the rating.
“Today, the OECD data appeared, according to which our country ranks seventh in terms of alcohol consumption, showing the largest decrease in consumption since 2007,” Salagay said.
Russia has never left this most drinking dozen of countries, moreover, the figures for our country in the OECD study may be underestimated, a member of the health committee argues with him in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.
A sober share is a heavy burden
An indicator of alcohol consumption above eight liters of alcohol per person per year is already the extinction of a nation, the deputy points out, referring to the position of the World Health Organization.
“I can’t say that they began to drink more or less over the past year, it’s just that more objective information, apparently, began to be brought out, because part of the drunk [in Russia] is not taken into account in any way. These are various kinds of alcohol-containing liquids, which, unfortunately, our citizens drink, this is moonshine, of course, in huge quantities, ”the deputy noted.
According to him, the state is taking a number of measures to counter the alcoholization of the population, but this is not enough. A more systematic approach is needed. “If we want to preserve the state, if we want to preserve a healthy nation, these measures must be strengthened,” the deputy believes.
In recent years, the state really restricts the distribution of alcoholic beverages. For example, territorially: now you can not sell alcohol near educational institutions.
Age restrictions have been introduced (the sale of alcohol only from 18 years old) and bans on the sale during sowing work and at certain hours. In Moscow, for example, alcohol is not sold after 11 pm, and in some regions alcohol cannot be bought even after 8 pm.
One of the latest government initiatives to combat alcoholism is a bill to raise the minimum age for the sale of alcohol from 18 to 21 years. According to the Ministry of Health, the document will be adopted by December.
According to Minister Veronika Skvortsova, the active period of formation of organs and systems of the human body begins at the age of 14 and ends at the age of 20. Therefore, according to Skvortsova, young people at this age “should be protected from highly concentrated alcohol”, that is, above 16.5%.
Do not abuse remotely
At the same time, the Ministry of Health was categorically against the remote sale of alcohol, since if this initiative is adopted, all legislative prohibitions in the field of regulating the sale of alcoholic beverages will be leveled.
The Ministry of Finance, meanwhile, expects to legalize the sale of alcohol via the Internet in Russia and subsequently throughout the Eurasian space from 2020. At the first stage, it is planned to remove restrictions only for producers and wholesalers of wine. De facto, online alcohol sales are common in Russia.
Meanwhile, in Russia, alcohol addiction was not higher than in Europe, and the measures of the state will not change the situation here, the head of the Center for Research on Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets emphasized in an interview with a Gazeta.Ru correspondent.
“Why should [alcohol addiction] go down? It was not higher than in Europe. In all countries with European culture, they drink about the same. They drank, they drink and they drink. 75-80% of the adult population, despite any anti-alcohol campaigns of the last 120-130 years,” the expert said.
The result of the anti-alcohol campaigns of recent decades, starting with the "dry law" in the United States, has been a sharp increase in drug consumption, Drobiz clarifies. It is for this reason that some countries are currently gradually legalizing marijuana.
“There is a war between the drug lobby and the alcohol lobby. Both doctors and physicians are involved in this massacre. They (drug dealers) blindly use them (doctors) as fools, ”the expert is sure.
The most drinking countries are determined on the basis of the official summary, which is publicly available on the website of the World Health Organization.
Every year, WHO collects and processes information on the alcohol dependence of residents based on the amount of alcohol consumed in various countries of the world. Based on the data obtained, the most drinking countries are determined. It shows that the amount of alcohol consumed in the world by the adult population in 2020 is only increasing.
Map of alcohol consumption per capita in 2020
Statistics of countries in which there are problems with alcohol, based on information published by WHO
The World Health Organization is based on information provided by regulatory organizations that oversee the alcohol trade. It also relies on the analysis and reports of private companies that control the alcoholic beverage market in states, including the third world.
The conclusions of the organization's specialists are disappointing: alcoholic beverages directly or partially become the causes of death of people.
Regions of the Russian Federation where mortality from alcohol is greater than or equal to mortality from external causes
Alcohol is taken into account not only produced in the countries under study, but also the amount of alcoholic beverages imported from abroad.
On the basis of the information collected, WHO specialists find out the dynamics of alcohol dependence of the population and determine the amount of alcohol consumed or sold per person in various countries.
Specialized programs are being developed to reduce the distribution of alcoholic beverages among the population. But such initiatives by WHO are limited by their own legislation and the monopoly of a particular country.
Reference. The main problem of the drinking population is the lack of understanding of dependence on alcohol.
People living in the territory of the leading states in the top do not recognize the problem of alcoholism and do not consider it a national one.
According to annual statistics published since 1961, the countries of the former USSR and have been the leaders in the ranking of territories where they drink the most over the past 10 years. The fact that the most drinking country is a myth.
Impact of alcohol containment measures
The introduction of restrictive measures for the consumption and distribution of alcoholic beverages shows that the number of alcohol-containing goods sold is increasing in those states where it is possible to freely import or export alcoholic beverages across the border. WHO notes that drinks are being bought for further distribution where there is a restriction on their use.
Top most "drinking" countries in the world
Thus, the use of wine, beer, national fruit brews or homemade wine, which are considered low-alcohol drinks, is common in the following European countries:
- Belarus.
- Lithuania.
- Czech.
- France.
The top includes only those states where, according to statistics, more than 6.6 liters of pure alcohol per citizen over the age of 15 years. Thus, since 2014 this number has been growing annually by 0.2%.
TOP-20 most drinking countries in the world in terms of the amount of ethyl alcohol consumption per capita
The rating shows that the addiction of people in the countries of the world to alcoholic beverages is a problem for the state authorities. The widespread availability of liquor and lack of self-discipline lead to detrimental consequences.
The statistical conclusions based on the totality of data reflect the real numbers: over 2.5 million people die each year due to alcohol addiction.
Countries where alcohol is prohibited
There are 41 countries in the world where alcohol is completely banned in 2020.
On the territory of the Scandinavian states, by decision of the government, special programs have been developed to ban the drinking of alcoholic beverages. One of them called "Sober City" involves the annual weeks of freedom from addiction in all localities.
The list of states where alcoholic products cannot be drunk:
The world community has about 400 denominations in which any addictive substances, including drinks with a low alcohol content, are strictly prohibited.
Alcoholism in Russia
The statistics contain numbers indicating the ratio of people who periodically "have problems with alcohol" to the rest of society. The number is 20% of the European population, which means that all these people are addicted to alcohol.
As a result, the level of human life expectancy decreases, many diseases appear in young people. Such a nation is unable to control itself, and the universal availability of strong drinks and the lack of a culture of their consumption leads to the fact that many people drink.
Despite the high development of civilization among the most drinking countries in the world in 2018, there were states with a low standard of living that did not lag behind at all. 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 painful addiction to alcoholic beverages around the world is only growing.
The TOP-10 countries of strong drink lovers include developed European countries, but Russia, contrary to the stereotype, has noticeably moved away from the “prize-winning” places. It is sad that the age of people who first tried alcohol barely reaches 15 years, and after 16, the average rate of drinking alcohol by a young person per year is 6.2 liters. After analyzing the research of the World Health Organization, we have compiled a list of the most drinking countries in the world in 2018.
10. Ukraine
On the Ukraine 12.8 liters of alcohol per person per year. The alcohol market is very poorly regulated in the country, so the number of young people dependent on alcohol is increasing. The national drink is vodka, whose history begins
from the 12th century. Gorilka (vodka) and beer are the most popular alcohol, wine is in third place. Ukrainians prefer to drink domestically produced wines, mainly because of the affordable price compared to European brands. The world brand of Ukrainian alcoholic products 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 EU average is 1.6%. Alcohol consumption per person in Belgium is 13.2 liters.
8. Bulgaria
The eighth step of the rating was taken by a country that is very popular with 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 excises. Perhaps if the country accounted for all the alcohol produced by 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. Liquor can be attributed to the national drinks of the country. Wine is very popular in the country, the share of consumption of this drink is 44.8%.
List of countries with the highest proportion of alcohol spending on average wages.
6. Czech Republic
The national drink is Becherovka. A citizen Czech Republic on average, he drinks 13.7 liters per year. hot drink. Beer accounts for almost 160 liters. 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 classics of 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, different 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 vineyards grow in Moravia.
5.Romania
Famous for its beer and wine. The country has factories such as Murfatlar, Cotnari, Dragasani. The country is one of the largest wine exporters. The total alcohol consumption in the country is 13.7 liters. The share of 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 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. AT Russia more preference is given to vodka and beer, a 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, drinking alcohol, to reach a state of extreme intoxication, as as quickly as possible. Russia's entry into the ranking of the most drinking countries is largely due to the relatively low cost of alcohol, in comparison with Europe - $ 4 per half liter and a 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, 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, she lost the “leadership” to Lithuania. Here, each resident drinks an average of 16.4 liters. alcohol per year. The indicator decreased by 1 liter, relative to the data of 2016-2017. Moreover, strong drinks are preferred by 47% of people, beer, only 17%, other alcohol -32%, and wine is very little - 4%. Women also like to drink, on average, 7 liters. in year. These figures are official, but the real ones are supposedly much higher, since data on moonshine production 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 expenses for alcohol is 4.2%. According to this parameter, the country is in the top three
The country predominantly consumes beer and strong alcohol, 46.5% and 34.1% respectively. Against the background of a significant increase in alcohol consumption, the country's authorities are taking measures aimed at reducing the sale of alcoholic beverages. Excises on alcohol were sharply increased, and temporary restrictions on sales were taken.
The table shows data on alcohol consumption per capita in the 10 countries with the highest levels.
How much alcohol do you drink compared to the rest of the world? Here you can find out if you are more like a succumbing Belarusian or a teetotaler Kuwaitis.
What is "other drinks"?
Alcoholic beverages made from barley malt are classified as beer, those made from fermented (fermented) grapes are classified as wines, and distilled beverages are spirits.
However, many alcoholic beverages do not fall into any of these categories. For example, cider, which is made from apples or pears, or sake, where the base is rice. The World Health Organization, whose data is presented on this page, has classified these drinks in the "other" category.
Beer made from sorghum (cereal) also falls into the "other" category, which is why this category dominates much of sub-Saharan Africa. This grass perfectly withstands heat and is not afraid of drought.
Fortified wines, such as port, produced using a hybrid fermentation process that includes distillation, are also classified as "other beverages" by the WHO, separating them from ordinary wines.
How does the calculator work?
The most suitable country for you is selected by comparing your data with the average amount of alcohol consumed in a particular country in general - beer, wine, spirits and "other" drinks, based on the entire population of the country, according to WHO: all men, women who drink and non-drinking residents - over 15 years old.
The calculator follows the same principle as the WHO: on average, a pint of beer or cider contains 5% alcohol, wine, as a rule, 12%, spirits - 40%, fortified wines - 17.5%, and sake - 9%.
Data
The World Health Organization collects and publishes data by country, calculating alcohol consumption per capita, breaking it down by type of drink, based on tax reporting and export-import data.
In addition, WHO is trying to determine the amount of "unregistered" alcohol consumed. These are home-made drinks, smuggled goods, or alcoholic liquids that are not intended for ingestion.
This second category, according to WHO, is in some countries even larger than the official category. The leader here is Moldova. In this case, the calculations are based on the results of surveys, and in extreme cases - on the basis of expert opinion. Therefore, the statistics presented here are not absolutely accurate.
More information on the methods used and confidence intervals is available on the WHO website.
Approximately how many units of alcohol are in each drink?
- One shot (25 ml) of spirits: 1 unit
- Standard (175 ml) glass of wine: 2.1 units
- Large (250 ml) glass of wine: 3 units
- Pint of 4% beer: 2.3 units
- Pint of 5% beer: 2.8 units
- Pint of strong cider (8%): 4.5 units
If you drink more, it's best to spread your alcohol intake evenly over three or more days.
The more a person drinks on a regular basis, the higher their risk of various diseases, including some types of cancer.
The WHO classifies a person as a "heavy drinker" if he or she consumes more than 7.5 units of alcohol at one time, such as in one evening.
According to experts from the World Health Organization, drinking this amount of alcohol at least once a month "causes negative consequences, even if the average person consumes relatively little alcohol."
Contributed by: Ed Lowther, Lilly Hyun, Mark Brysonand Stephen Connor.