Worldwide, 3.3 million deaths in 2012 were due to harmful use of alcohol, says a new report launched by WHO "Global status report on alcohol and health 2014", where the key characteristics of 194 WHO Member States on alcohol consumption are presented. Alcohol use can not only make people abuse, but it also increases the risk of more than 200 diseases in people, including cirrhosis of the liver and some types of cancer. In addition, the harmful use of alcohol can lead to violence and injury.

On average, each person aged 15 years and older annually drinks 6.2 liters of pure alcohol. But in reality, less than half of the population (38,3%) use alcohol, which means, that people who drink alcohol, annually consume an average of 17 liters of pure alcohol.  Globally, Europe has the highest alcohol consumption per capita, and some European countries have particularly high levels. Analysis of the trends shows that over the past five years the level of consumption in the region, as well as in Africa and the Americas remained stable, while in South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions there is a registered increase in alcohol consumption. 

The report also highlights the fact that a higher percentage of deaths from causes related to alcohol, are among the men - 7.6% of deaths compared with 4% of deaths among women, despite the evidence that compared with men, women are more vulnerable to some diseases linked with alcohol. In addition, the authors express concern about the sustainable increase in the extent of alcohol consumption among women.

“We found that worldwide about 16% of drinkers engage in heavy episodic drinking - often referred to as ‘binge-drinking’ - which is the most harmful to health,” explains Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO.

Under the harmful use of alcohol is understood alcohol having devastating consequences for the health and social status of a person consuming alcohol, for the people around him and for the society in general, as well as drinking patterns associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes.

Some countries already strengthen measures to protect its population. These measures include increasing taxes on alcohol, limiting the availability of alcohol by increasing the age limit and regulate the marketing of alcoholic beverages.