In France, alcohol consumption is higher than the European average, drinkers less dependent. But the WHO warns about the risks of excessive drunkenness on health.
“Whatever the bottle, as long as you are drunk,” wrote Alfred de Musset. A verse well applied by the French whose alcohol consumption has evolved, according to the latest World Health Organization report (WHO). Published on May 12, it offers an outline of alcohol consumption by country, its effects on health and the policies put in place against abuse.
The success of binge drinking
Drinkers around the world ingest an average of 6 liters of pure alcohol each year. Europe is the WHO region where per capita consumption is peaking. France figures prominently there, even if the quantity absorbed per person is declining. On average, a European ingests 10 liters of pure alcohol per year. A Frenchman drinks 3 more. The most striking gap certainly concerns the binge drinking (massive and rapid alcohol consumption): 3 in 10 French people indulge in it, twice the world average. They are however reasonable on the types of alcohol, more readily wine lovers than spirits.
Source: WHO, Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health
72% of cirrhosis due to alcohol
“Moderate income groups are more affected by the social and health consequences of alcohol,” said Dr Shekhar Sawen, director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. “They often lack quality care, and they are less protected by their families or community networks. ”
Because excessive alcohol consumption is not without health risks. 3.3 million people died of a cause attributable to alcohol in 2012. Too much alcohol consumption increases the risk of cirrhosis and cancer, but also of contracting infectious diseases.
In France, 72% of deaths from cirrhosis of the liver and 13% of those from road accidents are related to alcohol. Good news, however: there are fewer addicts to drunkenness in the country than in the rest of Europe: 2.9% of French people are alcoholics, against 4% of Europeans.
Source: WHO, Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health
To fight against the damage of alcohol, the WHO calls for a reinforced action of the States. “Complacency has no place in reducing the consequences of bad alcohol consumption,” insists Dr Oleg Chestnov, in charge of non-communicable diseases and mental health to the director general of the WHO. Taxes on alcohol, age limit, regulation of advertising… there are many weapons. For its part, France has applied a majority. The only downside, for the WHO, is the glaring absence of a national action plan against alcoholism.
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