Surely, many people around the world think that the most drinking country is Russia. One has only to look at the usual cartoons, which quite often depict Russian people hugging a bear and a bottle of vodka. However, according to published information from the World Health Organization, our country is not even among the top three in terms of the amount of alcohol consumed per capita. “Prize” places in this case were given to countries from which, perhaps, this should not have been expected. So who can deservedly be called the most drinking country in the world?

Conversion to pure alcohol

Since each country in the world has its own culture of drinking alcoholic beverages and preference for one or another type of strong drink, when compiling such a rating, WHO decided to calculate the consumption of alcohol by citizens of different countries in liters of pure ethyl alcohol. And for greater representativeness of the statistics, people whose age exceeded 15 years were taken into account.

WHO experts have absolute confidence that when the average consumption of ethyl alcohol exceeds 8 liters, the degradation of the nation begins. It is with this kind of consumption of “hot” drinks that there is a high probability that the next generation will also hit the hardest and will suffer from alcoholism due to heredity. And many countries in Europe and the USA are in such a risky situation today.

Leader in alcohol consumption – Republic of Belarus

As a result of the information studied by WHO on the consumption of pure alcohol per capita, the most drinking country turned out to be Belarus, where citizens drink 17.5 liters of alcoholic beverages per year. Moreover, this is only the average indicator of this parameter. If we consider alcohol consumption by men and women, then Belarusian men drink approximately 27.5 liters of pure alcohol, while for women this figure is much lower - 9.1 liters.

Russia is in fourth place on this list, since our compatriots drink 15.1 liters of alcohol per year. Second in the ranking is Moldova, with 16.8 liters of alcoholic beverages per person. Third place is occupied by Lithuania, where there are 15.4 liters of pure alcohol per capita per year.

Europe looks like the most drinking country in the world – the list of some of the most drinking countries in the world has been supplemented by Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Slovakia. And the scary thing is that a lot of people all over the world die for alcohol-related reasons. For example, according to WHO, in 2012, about 3,300,000 people died worldwide, which is a very impressive figure. And mortality, according to experts, is unlikely to decrease - rather, on the contrary, it will increase, and the reason for this is an increase in the number of people living around the world and an increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially in rapidly developing countries.

What do Belarusians drink more in a year?

As a rule, the inhabitants of the planet intoxicate their brains most of all with strong drinks, which account for slightly more than half of alcohol consumption. Beer is consumed in an amount of 35 percent, and wine accounts for 8 percent. Likewise, Belarusians consume vodka the most – it accounts for 47 percent of annual consumption. Belarusians consume 17 percent of beer, and 5 percent of grape wine.

And 31 percent of the consumption of alcoholic beverages in Belarus consists of cheap wine drinks and fruit wines, which often cause high mortality and the risk of various diseases. For example, in 2013 in the Republic of Belarus there were 3,100 cases of alcohol-related psychosis and 1,600 deaths from alcohol consumption.

Having created such a disappointing rating, WHO nevertheless noted that the number of completely non-drinking people around the world is large - it amounts to 48 percent of the total population of the planet. These people had never taken a drop of alcohol into their mouths in their lives. Experts also noted that teetotalers are often women - men are more fond of alcoholic beverages.

And young people carry out rare but abundant libations of “strong” drinks into their bodies. Representatives of all generations, as a rule, indulge in such episodes of alcohol consumption in the amount of 7.5 percent, but the share of young people aged 15 to 19 years in this case is increasing and currently amounts to 12 percent.

There is a consistent upward trend in the incidence of alcohol dependence throughout the world. The World Health Organization cannot stand aside, since alcoholism provokes deadly diseases that claim the lives of many people every year.

Every year this organization publishes a ranking of the most drinking countries in the world. The volume of alcohol consumption per capita is taken into account (the population is taken with the exception of citizens under 15 years of age, and ethanol is counted in its pure form). Of course, only legally sold alcoholic beverages are subject to registration.

Positions in the ranking change from year to year, but, as a rule, the same countries are included in it. These are European states and countries of the post-Soviet space. Despite the widespread belief that Russia is a territory of rampant drunkenness, it is not even among the top three.

Of course, the level of alcohol consumption in the Russian Federation is quite high, but we are quite seriously ahead of our neighbors - the Baltic countries and other states of the post-Soviet space.

Belarus, Ukraine

In Belarus, alcohol consumption is approximately 17.5 liters of alcohol annually. Almost half of the residents prefer vodka and other strong drinks, about 17% drink mainly beer.

Of course, official data does not reflect the true level of drunkenness, since the tradition of artisanal alcohol production in this country is quite widespread. In this regard, the government is now developing and implementing programs to combat drunkenness.

In Ukraine, according to official data, they consume almost the same amount of alcoholic beverages – 17.4 liters. Residents of this country prefer their national drink, vodka, as well as beer. Ukrainians also drink wine, mostly locally produced.

The circulation of alcohol and alcohol-containing products in Ukraine is almost not regulated by the state, alcohol laws are imperfect, therefore the country has a persistent tendency towards an increase in alcoholism among young people and adolescents.

Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia

The Baltic states remain the traditional leaders of the alcohol hit parade. In 2016, Lithuania was in first place.

Latvia and Estonia drink less, but regularly make it into the top three.

In 2016, 17.2 liters of alcohol per capita were consumed in Estonia. These people prefer beer, as well as their signature drink - the strong liqueur “Old Tallinn” (Vana Tallinn).

Today, in the Baltic countries, serious government measures are being taken against the growth of alcohol consumption: the age at which you can legally purchase alcohol is increasing, a ban on advertising has been introduced, and temporary restrictions have been established on the sale of alcoholic products.

Czech Republic, Poland

The Czech Republic has ancient brewing traditions; many original varieties of this drink are produced and consumed here. Becherovka, a strong herbal liqueur, is also popular.

Alcohol consumption per capita is approximately 16.4 liters.

Poland entered the top ten not so long ago, but in recent years there has been a pronounced trend towards increasing alcohol consumption.

Russia

In Russia, many residents prefer the national drink - vodka. Russians do not disdain other strong drinks; they also love weak alcohol – beer, wine.

Per capita consumption is about 15 liters per year.

Russia may not be among the top three, but the numbers are disappointing - Russians drink a lot. It is a myth that this is a national tradition.

Drunkards were encountered at all times, but the attitude towards them was sharply negative. The policy of the 90s, when the circulation of alcohol-containing products was practically not controlled by the state, led to widespread drunkenness and an increase in the number of people suffering from alcohol addiction. Today in Russia serious measures are being taken to combat alcoholism.

South Korea

Asia is considered a relatively sober region, but one state is included in the WHO's top ten for alcohol consumption. South Korea is recognized as the heaviest drinking state in the region.

Residents also prefer the national drink - rice vodka; they also like weaker locally produced alcohol - fruit-based wines, beer.

Traditionally, most South Koreans end their workday in bars and other drinking establishments. On the streets of Seoul and other cities in the evening you can meet many drunk people, but the Asian mentality and upbringing do not allow Koreans to behave disgracefully.

Great Britain

England and other parts of the United Kingdom have long been considered the hardest drinking countries in Europe.

In Ireland and Scotland, whiskey is considered the national drink, of which a large number of varieties are produced. The English and Welsh prefer ale, beer, and will not refuse whiskey and gin (the popular English brand of Beefeater gin).

People drink a lot in this country, and the tradition of going to one of the many pubs after finishing the working day continues. On weekends, Britons, especially young people, get absolutely drunk, and you can see very drunk people on the streets.

Here you can legally drink alcohol in public places, and you can also drink while driving, albeit within certain limits.

Germany

This country has one of the oldest brewing traditions, and lovers of the foamy drink pay tribute to German beer. It is thanks to intoxication that the level of alcohol consumption in Germany is about 12 liters per year.

Stronger drinks, which are called “schnaps,” are also respected here. Initially, this word was used to describe moonshine, obtained by distilling potato-based mash. Today, many types of it are produced, which the Germans consider their national drink along with beer.

France, Italy

These states are wine regions where the tradition of making and consuming alcohol dates back to ancient times. These countries grow the bulk of grapes in Europe; the area of ​​vineyards in France is about 60 million hectares, in Italy - about the same.

The level of alcohol consumption is high, so the rating of drinking countries, of course, cannot do without them. However, the tradition of use here is strikingly different from the Russian and post-Soviet countries.

In France and Italy they drink mainly wine. They drink it during the day, at lunch, often in diluted form.

Portugal, Spain

In the Iberian Peninsula, the tradition of winemaking is almost as ancient as in France and Italy. Many types of wines are produced here, including fortified ones (the most famous are port and Madeira).

The Portuguese and Spaniards consume about 11.5 liters of alcohol annually.

Hungary, Denmark, Slovenia

In Denmark and Slovenia, consumption is 10.5 liters each, in Hungary – 10.8 liters of alcohol. The Danes prefer beer as much as the Hungarians. The second most popular item is wine.

Hungary is famous for its wine region - the Tokaj Mountains, where the wine of the same name is produced.

In Slovenia they also grow grapes and make wine. Only a fifth of the population prefers strong drinks in these countries; the rest of the population drinks mostly weak alcohol.

Australia

In this country, alcohol is consumed mainly by the local population, the indigenous inhabitants of the continent. Most often, preference is given to beer; among the natives there are many people dependent on alcohol. This forces the government to take quite strict measures, such as forced addiction treatment.

Drinking alcohol in Australia is a tradition dating back to British colonial times. At that time, strong alcohol, mainly rum, was often used for mutual payments and used as currency. Since then, many Australians have followed the tradition of drinking alcohol in large quantities.

Today, government measures to combat alcoholism are yielding results - the popularity of alcohol is falling.

Uganda

Uganda is recognized as the drinkingiest African country. Residents of this state prefer strong drinks, as well as locally produced beer.

The most popular spirits are Uganda Waragi gin and Bond7 whiskey. Alcohol is sold everywhere here, there are no time restrictions, so most Ugandans drink it.

According to WHO, about 60% of the world's population does not consume alcohol at all. Traditionally, Muslim states are considered non-drinkers, where drinking alcohol is prohibited for religious reasons.

Prohibition was introduced in 41 countries, and quite strict restrictions on the sale of alcohol were introduced in another 40 countries. Temperance laws of varying degrees of severity apply in India, China, most Asian and African countries, Turkey, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Turkmenistan.

Alcohol is least common among those professing Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Yemen, the UAE, and Pakistan are considered the most sober countries.

In Arab countries, drinking and selling alcohol can result in very severe punishment, including flogging, caning, and even the death penalty.

Measures to combat drunkenness

The highest positions in the ranking of drinking countries are occupied by secular states. And the Christian religion, various branches of which are professed by the majority of Europeans, does not prohibit drinking alcohol, and even uses it in rituals. Therefore, effective methods of struggle used in Islamic states are not suitable for “drinking” countries.

Excessive alcohol consumption is a serious problem that needs to be addressed at all levels. On the part of the state, the following measures are considered the most effective:

• age restrictions for purchasing alcohol;
• ban on all types of advertising;
• control over the circulation of alcoholic products and state regulation of prices.

A very important preventive measure is educational activities aimed at familiarizing people (mainly young people and adolescents) with how alcohol affects the body, what are the medical and social consequences of alcohol abuse.

Surely many have heard the statement that the heaviest drinkers live in Russia. But if you examine alcohol consumption by country, a rather interesting picture emerges. It turns out that due to historical moments and national traditions, the problem of alcohol is acute in many countries.

Key Causes of Alcoholism

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 pressure of the fast pace of life in a big city are increasingly relaxing with a glass of alcohol.
• 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 prices for alcohol. Due to illiterate government policy in the field of pricing control, alcohol is becoming affordable. Probably everyone has heard the life joke that a bottle of beer costs less than a bottle of milk.

Uganda

Among African countries, the most disappointing indicators of alcohol consumption are recorded in Uganda. The majority of the population drinks a strange banana-based drink, which most likely will not appeal to foreign tourists. Previously, this recipe was used to maintain the morale of warriors. Another popular drink in Uganda is Ajono. This is a fermented beer that locals like to drink through a thin straw.

Italy

We can say that Italians drink relatively little - about 8 liters per person per year. Mass production of wine made this drink part of the national culture. Each meal must be accompanied by a glass. Wine is also given to children from an early age in a diluted form.

Australia

Australians consume about 9-10 liters of strong alcohol annually. Alcohol addiction is a historical feature. The fact is that in ancient times, strong rum was a real monetary currency, which was actively used for settlement in trade operations and transactions. When Australia was a British colony, people considered drinking quite common and even normal. Now alcohol is gradually losing popularity in the country. Nevertheless, many people honor the tradition of drinking until they pass out.

Denmark

Looking at alcohol consumption by country, it is not surprising why Denmark made the ranking. Each citizen of the state drinks almost 10.7 liters of strong alcoholic drinks annually. Wine and beer are especially popular here. As a rule, addiction begins to form in adolescence (from about 15 years old). The situation is not catastrophic, but alarming. It is believed that the Danes still drink little, since alcohol is expensive in the country.

Great Britain

Just over 10 liters of spirits are consumed annually by every Briton. It is believed that with the first glass they drink, they lose their sense of proportion. It is therefore not surprising that the number of people suffering from liver cirrhosis has increased significantly over the past decade. And all because alcohol in the UK can be consumed around the clock, pubs and bars also have flexible opening hours.

Spain

Alcohol consumption varies across countries. For example, in Spain there are 11.4 liters of strong alcohol per person annually. This is usually port, wine and beer. People's addiction to alcohol is due to two factors. The first is developed winemaking. Thanks to large areas of plantations, Spain has taken third place in the world in wine production. The second reason is hot weather. During siesta, Spaniards like to quench their thirst with cold beer with ice. In the evening, multi-ingredient cocktails are in demand.

Finland

Boasting impressive volumes of consumption of strong alcohol, the conditions of almost year-round cold are not at all easy. Low air temperatures and lack of sunlight encourage people to seek solace in alcohol. Alcoholism is the leading cause of death in this country. The majority of cardiovascular diseases and cancer in people aged 15 to 70 years are caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Despite the fact that the authorities are strenuously fighting this problem and introducing all kinds of restrictive measures, the common people seem to ignore them.

Germany

When looking at alcohol consumption by country, you cannot ignore Germany. There are about 12 liters of strong alcohol per person per year. Of course, beer occupies the most impressive share. This drink is sold literally everywhere. Even at newsstands. And it is quite inexpensive by local standards. In Germany there is no ban on drinking alcohol in public places, and beer festivals are often held.

France

In France, alcohol consumption per capita is about 14 liters. Despite the fact that red wine is considered the main drink of sophisticated French people, cheaper beer is in first place in consumption. But still, you shouldn’t write off the grape drink. The French love it and are great at it. Good red wine is considered an integral part of the daily meal.

Czech

Alcohol consumption in the world is constantly growing. The Czech Republic is approximately on the same level as France. Residents of the country revere and actively drink their national treasure - Becherovka. Beer is also part of the Czech culture. It is here that drinks from world famous brands are produced (for example, Velkopopovetsky Kozel, Pilsner and others). The wine industry is also developing thanks to extensive plantations in Moravia.

Russia

Alcohol consumption in Russia is about 15 liters per person. The main share falls on vodka. In second place is beer. Russia's entry into the country is also due to the price of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are several times cheaper than, for example, in Europe. Fortunately, thanks to government policy, the population’s craving for alcohol is gradually decreasing. The population's interest in high-quality wine, which is less harmful to health than vodka, is also growing.

Ukraine

When studying the most drinking countries, one cannot help but mention Ukraine. Here, there are about 17 liters of alcohol per person per year. The whole problem lies in the weak regulatory policy of the state regarding the alcohol market. Low prices and availability of alcohol - all this causes people to become addicted to alcohol from a young age. In addition, there are many enterprises producing alcoholic beverages in the country. Vodka is in first place in popularity. The second is beer, and the third is wine.

Belarus

In 2016, Belarus took first place in the ranking of “The Most Drinking Countries in the World.” Each resident of the country consumes almost 18 liters of alcohol per year. It is worth noting that alcohol was not taken into account when compiling the statistics. And moonshine, as you know, is a problem in Belarus and other post-Soviet countries.

Who drinks the least

Alcohol consumption statistics over the past few years indicate that Yemen is the least-drinking country. There are several milliliters per capita per year. And all because Islam, which the vast majority of the population professes, prohibits drinking alcoholic beverages, even to the point of punishment under Sharia law. Somalia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Libya and other Muslim countries near Yemen also have low drinking rates.

Conclusion

The World Health Organization has been ranking countries by alcohol consumption for many years in a row. The limit value is 8 liters per capita per year. It is believed that if such an indicator persists for several years, we are talking about genetic alcoholism. This problem can cause problems with the health and mental development of future generations. At the moment, most European countries are at risk.

Alcohol consumption in the world is becoming one of the primary problems in a sufficiently large number of countries. The destructive addiction is spreading on all continents. Mortality from alcoholism, according to statistics, reaches 2.5 million people per year worldwide.

Consequences of alcoholism

The negative consequences of addiction affect not only the people who drink, but also those around them. And above all, families suffer. Alcohol is the cause of many illegal and unpleasant activities. Up to half of all crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol, families break up, and the younger generation suffers.

Most crimes, car accidents with serious consequences, cases of violence, serious harm to health, and so on are committed under the influence of alcohol. Women with alcohol addiction often give birth to defective offspring. The educational impact of drinking parents has an extremely negative effect on children, and the financial support of the family also suffers. Abandoned in such families, they often become homeless.

Alcoholism also has a negative impact on society. It can cause economic disruptions and even lead to economic and political crises.

Addiction to alcohol negatively affects literally all human organs, leading to serious damage and death of the body, causes mental illness and loss of appearance, premature aging.

Alcoholism in Europe

According to the established tradition, there is no concept of "alcoholism disease" and no records of such patients are kept. Europeans call such people "having problems with alcohol" and they are recruited, according to various estimates, about 10 -20%. Therefore, it is not possible to provide statistical data on this problem.

Europeans drink the most in the world. The conclusion suggests itself that in countries with a high consumption of alcohol, the level and duration of life should decrease. However, this is not confirmed by statistical data.

The transition from drinking to alcohol abuse is influenced by various factors, such as:

The consequences of drinking in Europe

• comfort of living in the country;
• alcohol consumption culture;
• traditional types of alcohol consumed in the country;
• the prevailing attitude towards those suffering from this vice.

About the social roots of alcoholism

It is generally accepted that representatives of low-status social strata are susceptible to the harmful effects of alcoholism, low income and standard of living. This implies a behavioral reaction to a failed life and dissatisfaction with one’s own situation. Of course, this kind of deviation also occurs among quite successful people, top-level politicians, and show business stars. But there are few mass phenomena of this kind in high circles. The very standard of living, communication, and life tasks require a person to constantly be in good shape and in adequate condition.

The culture of drinking alcohol in Europe is not an end in itself, but only an accompaniment to the process of communication with others, so this level does not imply excessive consumption. In addition, the process of drinking alcohol takes place in public places - bars, pubs, restaurants, which also requires behavior of a certain level.

The level of prices for alcohol is also important, which is several times higher than that in Russia. This applies not only to elite drinks, but also to ordinary vodka. This approach does not encourage excessive alcohol consumption.

Any kind of alcohol contributes to the development of alcohol addiction, it is beer, traditional for many territories, and wine, and, especially, strong drinks. They affect alcoholization most aggressively in relatively short periods of time.

The comparison here is with wine-drinking Moldova. Having the highest level in alcohol consumption, it is characterized by the highest life expectancy.

Europe is characterized by a sensitive attitude towards people suffering from alcoholism. They try to involve them in public life, help them find a job, take a worthy place in society, and start a family. Alcoholics Anonymous societies are widespread, helping to provide psychological relief to addicted people, making it easier for them to fully return to society.

In general, it can be noted that Europeans are not concerned about the problem of alcoholism. They are more concerned about the problem of curing somatic diseases, which are also one of the consequences of a morbid addiction to alcohol.

Alcoholism in our country

The belief that Russians drink more than other countries is erroneous. Yes, they drink a lot, but there are many countries where it is more common. This opinion is formed for various reasons, including due to a number of specific features of the passion for alcohol in our country:

Alcoholism and drunkenness in numbers

Regarding this phenomenon, it is impossible to speak with certainty about the correctness of the data. In many countries there is no official registration of persons suffering from this defect.

And where such registration is carried out, it cannot be said that it is fully objective, because not everyone is registered in the relevant medical institutions, a significant part is not taken into account in such statistics.

It has been established that in communities without restrictions on the free sale of alcohol, the number of people wishing to receive medical help due to alcoholism is about 2%. Moreover, this figure is stable within the statistical error.

The number of “those who have problems,” that is, those who drink regularly but have not yet contacted doctors, is about 10 - 15%, and this figure is also stable for most countries.

For Russia, the number of people registered will be about 2.8 million people, latent alcoholics, respectively, 15 - 20 million.

Accordingly, in the EU countries this will be 1 million and 50 - 70 million people.

Alcohol rating by country

In the ranking of alcoholic countries, European countries occupy the first places, however, their attitude towards alcoholic beverages is ambiguous. Using data from 2014, we can identify some specific features. Let's pay attention to the top five countries leading in the consumption of alcoholic beverages:

Table 1

The top ten drinkers are the same.

18.12.2017 Svetlana Afanasyevna 8

Rating of the most drinking countries in the world

The World Health Organization has published a ranking of drinking countries in the world for 2018-19. According to WHO, alcoholic beverages are directly or indirectly considered one of the three main causes of increased mortality. At the same time, the share of alcohol consumed per adult is growing every year.

WHO specialists collect such data annually; this helps to determine the overall degree of dependence and the percentage of alcohol consumed.

For more than ten years, the list has been headed by the states of Eastern Europe and those formed from the former republics of the USSR. Russia is almost always in the middle of the drinking list.

The world began to drink more. WHO has been keeping such statistics since 1961; based on these data, special programs are being developed to combat the spread of alcohol. However, almost every nation adopts its own rules for drinking or not drinking.

The summary is compiled not only by the amount of pure ethanol drunk. All produced alcohol, imported or purchased, is accepted for accounting. At the same time, as a rule, in the leading territories themselves, the population does not consider drunkenness a national problem.

Statistics from the world's heaviest drinking countries in 2018-19 show that, due to containment policies, the share of alcohol consumed has greatly increased in countries with open economic borders. In an explanation of the study, WHO provided a rationale for this situation. The organization noted that a lot of alcohol considered consumed in the top three countries is not bought for the sake of drinking. Most often, such sales occur for the purpose of further distribution.

The permanent states included in the world ranking are countries where the culture of consumption of so-called light alcohol is very developed - wine, beer, local fruit brews. Austria, Slovenia, Poland, Italy and others are leading in another statistical list - consumption of low-alcohol drinks per capita. This year they were joined by African countries and South Korea.

Beer consumption per capita for 2018-19

Top 18 most drinking countries in the world

The global level of alcohol consumption has increased on the planet. In 2018-19, every person over 15 years old consumed 6.6 liters of pure alcohol per year. Since 2014, this figure has been growing by 0.2 percent.

Looking at countries with strong economies, experts have found that every fifth resident is a chronic alcoholic. Europe has held the leading position in suicides under the influence of systematic drunkenness for five years. Every 4th attempt to take one's life here is related to drinking.

This year’s ranking is represented almost entirely by countries in Europe and the post-Soviet space. Australia closes the top 18 of the world list. For the first time, she came to 20 countries with increased interest in alcohol.

And the most drinking country in the world in 2019 is Belarus, and the share of consumption of all categories of drinks has increased here.

Australia

18th line of the rating. Just three years ago, this state was one of the top thirty drinkers. But, due to the widespread distribution of local varieties of wine and beer, the country of kangaroos was faced with the problem of alcoholism among the aborigines. The health of many of them deteriorated so much that in some territories it was necessary to introduce compulsory treatment for drunkenness for local Indians.

Slovenia and Denmark

17th and 16th place. Traditionally, countries have the same rate of alcoholism among the population. In these states, beer is not considered an alcoholic beverage; its sale is permitted to persons over 15 years of age. People often start drinking alcohol much earlier. It is noteworthy that local health care does not consider these national traditions a threat. Many medicines are made from beer and derivatives.

Hungary

15th place. Two-thirds of the territory of this state is occupied by vineyards. Even more wine is produced here than in Italy. This alcoholic drink is considered a national treasure and is drunk everywhere. Hungary remains the only country in Europe where you can get behind the wheel if you are fairly tipsy. Criminal prosecution begins only for the systematic use of alcohol leading to death from an accident.

Portugal

14th place. This country closes the list of territories where lovers of low-alcohol drinks live. Despite the fact that we often remember the national port wine, the Portuguese themselves prefer local wine and beer. The latter is considered tastier than Slovenian and Czech, since it is produced with the addition of grape sugar.

Spain

13th place. Spanish wines are a frequent export product. Over the past two years, the percentage of strong alcohol consumption here has increased. Grape vodka and moonshine took the main places on the Spaniards' table. Over the past year, temperance societies have become popular across the country. Many believe that in this way wine producers are trying to fight those who make strong alcohol.

Ireland

12th place. Classic Irish whiskey is produced annually up to 30 liters for every Irishman living in the world (!). There was an alcohol riot in the country within 4 years. And today, local producers have reached a high global level in the production of various alcohol-containing drinks based on malt and distillates.

Germany

11th place. It is still the only EU country where drinking alcohol is allowed everywhere. Local and imported drinks are so popular that they are taught about them in high school classes. The authorities believe that such awareness will help young people make the right choice and stop drinking alcohol.

France and Great Britain

10th and 9th line of the rating. These countries have consistently high alcohol ratings. Local traditions of production and consumption of alcoholic beverages date back to the very beginnings of statehood. More than half of the culinary recipes of these countries are based on wine, beer, whiskey, etc. Until recently, some faiths considered the regular consumption of wine by children from the first year of life to be the norm.

South Korea

8th place. Asian countries are not often included in alcohol statistics. South Caucasus owes this attention to the production and consumption of quite European drinks - vodka, moonshine, tinctures, liqueurs. 10 years ago, drinking was completely prohibited in the country; the lifting of restrictions led to so many alcoholics that the authorities started talking about returning the taboo.

Italy

7th place. The country of wine and sun is always among the top ten drinking nations. Here, alcoholic drinks are used as refreshments. Surprisingly, in Italy, which has a fairly high rating, you practically won’t find drunk people. However, here the percentage of regular drinkers of strong alcohol has reached high levels. According to statistics, every third Italian adult is a chronic alcoholic.

Russia

6th place. Just 5 years ago, our country was one of the top five drinking countries in the world. In general, Russians began to drink less. Experts attribute this to the general impoverishment of the population. A program for developing a healthy lifestyle plays an important role in the fight against bad habits.

Lithuania

Closes the top five. Residents of this small state quickly responded to the rather poor indicators; literally a few days later the local parliament approved a program to combat alcohol addiction. Starting next year, you can only drink any alcoholic beverages if you are 20 years old. Alcohol advertising will be completely banned in the country. The concept of time without alcohol has been introduced - 2-3 weekdays and all holidays; it will be impossible to buy booze anywhere.

Czech

Takes a stable fourth place. The situation in the country has not changed for five years now. Neither restrictions nor propaganda help stop alcoholism. Most people drink beer here, but strong alcohol is also drunk here.

Estonia

This is the first time this country has found itself in the top three; it usually ranks in the second ten. This is due to the lifting of age restrictions on the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Now any Estonian over 16 years old can drink. It is noteworthy that this measure also applies to foreigners. Alcohol tours in this Baltic country have become a frequent tourist destination.

Ukraine

Second place. The dismal result is the result of an almost unregulated alcohol market. In a country with strong traditions of moonshine brewing and winemaking, today every 4 people under 25 years old is considered a chronic alcoholic.

Belarus

First place in the ranking. Highest relative consumption of pure ethanol. Almost half of the respondents (47%) confirmed that they regularly drink strong alcoholic beverages 2-3 times a week. Over the past three years, the system of combating drunkenness has been almost completely destroyed. And most likely, consumption data are greatly underestimated.

Summary statistics of drinking countries around the world

Based on the statistics, a summary table was created showing the dynamics of alcohol consumption over several years.

Place in the ranking	A country	Alcohol consumption per capita 2018 (l)	Alcohol consumption per capita 2017 (l)	Alcohol consumption per capita 2016 (l)	Relative percentage/ratio
1	Belarus	17,5	16,6	14	Increased by 25%
2	Ukraine	17,4	15,3	12	Increased by 45%
3	Estonia	17,2	17	16,5	Increased by 4%
4	Czech	16,4	16	16,2	Increased by 1%
5	Lithuania	16,3	14	15,8	Increased by 3%
6	Russia	16,2	15,8	16,2	Has not changed
7	Italy	16,1	16	16,1	Has not changed
8	South Korea	16	14	12	Increased by 33%
9	France	15,8	15,6	15,8	Has not changed
10	Great Britain	15,8	15,7	15	Increased by 1%
11	Germany	11,7	12,3	11,5	Increased by 1%
12	Ireland	11,6	11	8	Increased by 45%
13	Spain	11,4	11,3	11,6	Decreased by 2%
14	Portugal	11,4	11	11,2	Increased by 2%
15	Hungary	10,8	10	6	Increased by 18%
16	Slovenia	10,7	10,5	10,8	Decreased by 1%
17	Denmark	10,7	9	6,3	Increased by 69%
18	Australia	10,2	10	7	Increased by 45%

Alcohol-free areas of the world

In 41 countries of the world there is an absolute prohibition law. The governments of Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have enshrined the principles of sobriety by law.

• In the Scandinavian countries there is a social program sober city, according to it, weeks of freedom from addiction are held annually in every locality.
• Uzbekistan became the first prohibition country in the post-Soviet space. The sale, advertising, and production of alcohol is prohibited here. And the court talks to those who use it.
• In many Muslim countries, drinking and selling alcohol is punishable by criminal law. And in Iran, Jordan and the UAE, the drinker will be publicly humiliated or even killed.
• China became the first active fighter for sobriety. Almost everywhere there are laboratories where you can undergo free testing for diseases caused by alcohol.
• There are more than 400 religious denominations in the world, and their adherents are not just against drinking alcohol. In many cults, drugs and alcohol-containing substances are strictly taboo.

As the WHO notes in its report, the share of drinkers is increasing mainly due to countries with developed economies. This is facilitated by the availability of alcoholic beverages and relatively low employment.