One death every ten second is blamed on alcohol
The World Health Organisation have released new figures that clearly demonstrate the risks of alcohol consumption, with 5.9% of global deaths linked to drinking too much booze.
Shekhar Saxena, M.D. and director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the World Health Organisation explains that not only can alcohol consumption lead to addiction, but it is also an influencing factor on many other diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease – findings show that alcohol is linked to 200 disorders.
“This is a significant public health problem,” Saxena told Shape. “The number of deaths remains very high, and it’s not coming down.”
16% of drinkers binge drink, with 50% of the alcohol consumed worldwide being spirits, which is far more concentrated than wine or beer. The results also showed that the average person guzzles 6.2 litres of pure alcohol each year, with cheap prices making it even more accessible. Binge drinking even impacts stats on fatal motor accidents, with approximately 50% of accidents related to alcohol.
Women are said to have an increased risk of alcohol-related side effects. Due to differences in metabolism and estrogen, alcohol reaches peak levels more quickly in ladies, so are more likely to become intoxicated, lose judgment, and be at a higher risk for cirrhosis, or liver scarring.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends no more than three drinks in a day and no more than seven in a week.