An OECD report published on Wednesday May 19 estimates that excessive alcohol consumption causes an average loss of almost a year of life expectancy.
- 30% of adults binge drink at least once a month.
- Public Health France recommends not to drink more than ten glasses per week, with at least two days without consuming.
According to new OECD simulations published on Wednesday May 19, drinking more than one glass of alcohol per day reduces life expectancy by almost a year.
“Life expectancy is expected to be nearly a year (0.9 months) lower during the 2020-50 period due to pathologies caused by drinking more than one drink per day for women and 1, 5 drinks a day for men”, explain the experts.
1.1 million premature deaths in OECD countries
During the same period, illnesses and injuries caused by drinking more than 1/1.5 drinks per day will lead to 1.1 million premature deaths in OECD countries, European Union (EU27) and the Group of 20 (G20). “Excessive alcohol consumption is also the cause of road accidents, violence, fetal alcohol disorder and chronic diseases such as alcoholism, cancers and cirrhosis of the liver”adds the OECD.
Drinking more than 1/1.5 drinks per day also leads to additional costs for health systems. These expenditures represent, on average, 87% of all addiction treatment costs, 35% of cirrhosis treatment costs and a significant portion of injury and cancer treatment costs. According to the simulations, about 2.4% of annual health expenditure will be devoted to the treatment of diseases caused by consumption above this threshold (over the period 2020-50).
10 liters of alcohol per person
Alcohol consumption among individuals aged 15 and over was estimated at 10 liters of alcohol per person in 2018 – equivalent to two bottles of wine or almost 4 liters of beer per week per capita in the OECD countries. Before the pandemic, almost one in three adults in OECD countries had binge drunk at least once in the previous month, which corresponds to drinking more than 80% of a bottle of wine or 1 .5 liters of beer on one occasion.
“Harmful alcohol consumption among young adults is widespread. More than 60% of 15-year-olds drink alcohol and one in five has been drunk at least twice”note the scientists. Highly educated women and very wealthy or very poor people are also more likely to drink heavily.
.
