Who: 11.4 litres of pure alcohol per capita and year

In autumn, the WHO publishes new figures on alcohol consumption. In contrast to other EU countries, there is therefore no noticeable downward trend for Germany.

Who: 11.4 litres of pure alcohol per capita and year

In Germany, alcohol consumption per capita is higher than on average in European countries – and decreases slower than in many neighbouring countries. Even in latest unpublished surveys, no clear downward trend can be seen, said Vladimir Poznyak of World Health Organization (WHO) of German press agency. "Germany is not developing in line with general European downward trend and alcohol consumption is above average."

Poznyak coordinates WHO programme for drug abuse. The new figures are to be published in WHO status report alcohol in autumn. Poznyak recommended limiting alcohol consumption with minimum prices, advertising bans or warnings on labels and limiting sale. "I hold minimum prices for a very good idea," he said, looking at measure that was introduced on May 1 in Scotland. Studies would show that alcohol consumption is declining.

Scotland is first major region where minimum prices have been introduced nationwide. There is now a minimum price per alcohol unit. Thus, a 0.7-litre bottle of whisky with 40 percent alcohol now costs at least 16 euros, half a liter of beer with four percent alcohol at least 1.13 euros.

Alcohol consumption increases in Great Britain and Austria

According to WHO "status report alcohol" of 2014, people in Germany aged over 15 years of age drank 2010 still an average of 11.8 litres of pure alcohol. In Europe, average was 10.9 liters. This corresponds to about 200 litres of beer, 90 litres of wine or 25 litres of whisky.

In its general health statistics, WHO up to 2016 for Germany recorded a decrease to 11.4 litres. As a result, consumption in almost all of countries studied was lower than in Germany: in Spain, people drank an average of 9.2 liters, in Nerlands 8.7, in Denmark 10.1. Higher were France with 11.7 liters and Russia with 13.9 liters.

The decline thus amounted to about 3.4 percent in Germany between 2010 and 2016. Consumption decreased in almost all European neighbouring countries. In Austria, according to WHO, it rose from 10.3 to 10.6 litres and in UK from 11.6 to 12.3 litres.

Date Of Update: 09 May 2018, 12:03
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