Booze Linked To 1 In 25 Deaths Worldwide

(CBS)  Alcohol consumption is linked to one in every 25 deaths worldwide, according to a study that concludes the effects of drinking are as harmful as smoking.

In a series of articles published in The Lancet, alcohol is linked to behavioral deaths, like violent injuries, as well as medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer and liver disorders like cirrhosis.

The study found that 3.8 percent of deaths around the world in 2004 (the most recent year for data) were related to drinking - 6.3 percent for men, 1.8 percent for women.

Globally, average weekly consumption was around a dozen 10-ml units of pure ethanol - each unit being the equivalent of a bottle of beer, medium glass of wine or shot of liquor.

But consumption fluctuated regionally - Europeans imbibed 22 units a week; North Americans, 18. Figures were lowest in eastern Mediterranean countries, where consumption was just 1.3 units a week.

Indeed, alcohol consumption is rare in many parts of the world, the study finds.

"Worldwide, more people abstain than drink," principal researcher Jurgen Rehm, a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said Thursday according to a report in the Canadian Press.

"It's not only Muslim countries - of course they contribute to this - but also countries like India where about 95 percent of the women abstain, where about 80 percent of the males abstain."

"And India has more than one billion inhabitants, so they really count."

Alcohol-related death rates were highest in Europe - 10 percent. Within Europe, Russia tallied the highest proportion - 15 percent of deaths were linked to alcohol.

Risks are also increasing in developing economies, particularly Asian countries like China and Thailand, the report notes.

Researchers said alerting the world to the real dangers of regular alcohol use is difficult because of its entrenchment in many cultures, it poses health risks comparable to smoking a decade ago.

"The big message is treat alcohol like tobacco," not as a substance that is relatively benign except for "those bad alcoholics," Rehm said. "That is not true."

"So we need to rethink alcohol completely as a risk factor. Of course, we will not prohibit alcohol, but we should make it more expensive so it's consumed in smaller quantities and in quantities which are actually not as detrimental for health."

[JamesStreet]

This article is really about social control and not health.
First, it's clear that obesity, over consumption of animal fats and sugar, and lack of exercise, among other things (including over consumption of alcohol) leads to poor health.

But, even though some of us are tempted, we don't yank fatties off the street and plunk them down in fat farms until they are svelte, good standing members of the skinny community.

We value freedom far more than equality in America and it will do no good to deny it. Frankly, I need a couple of drinks every night just to put up with this mass conforming, pop culture called America where it is considered geeky to eat health foods and take vitamins and supplements for health not to mention doing anything else that isn't approved by the herd.

If you don't tell me what to do, I wont tell you what to do.

[mzwild]

why were we, the American Pubics, not told about this much sooner??? Again and again we fail as a so-called free society. Behind the Russkies, again. It wa'nt the Shrub who let us down in the Global Community, it was non-drinkers.

[ribbie149]

"If you want to know the secret to good health, the words you are looking for are "Everything in Moderation".

Thank you for being the voice of reason. Addictive and/or irresponsible usage of substances is the real cause of death, not the availability of the substances. (The exception to this is cigarettes, since they are a delivery system for nicotine, which causes the addiction which can eventually kill the smoker). The comparison between excessive alcohol use and cell phone use while driving is more apt than it would first seem. Neither alcoholic beverages or cell phones are inherently dangerous in themselves- it is HOW THEY ARE USED that kills.

[kansas1946]

as well as medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer and liver disorders like cirrhosis.
******************************

Cirrhosis, ok. Heart desease, cancer, horse pucky. In fact, it helps with cardiovascular desease. Leave us the eff alone. Alchohol has been around since humans have been around and it is NEVER going away. Moderation in all things and everyone will be fine.

[dragon8me]

I can see it now. The prohibitionist will be up in arms. That's the answer to everything. We need to end all prohibition and seek to help the ones who need it. The rest, just leave them alone. Notice how much higher consumption is in industrialized countries? Capitolism, at least our kind of capitolism does not bring happiness. People are happer when they don't have to work long hours, and are told they need to buy this and that and when you get it home discover you really don't need it but now you have a credit card to pay and have to get another job to keep from going bankrupt. America, I love ya but you've become a joke.

[debinok1]

This will fade into the background because you will never convince the great politicians that alcohol is as deadly as tobacco, just like you will never convince them that a natural substance like marijuana may have ANY proven benefit. After all they scream and holler about tobacco ads being aimed at kids. When was the last time anyone actually viewed a tobacco ad in print or on tv? Now kids don't see the marlboro man and joe camel, they see the Mojito, Captain Morgan, and all of the other popular alcohol commercials that make drinking look cool and sexy.

[payasyougo]

"Booze Linked To 1 In 25 Deaths Worldwide"
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Yeah but booze is also linked to 6 in 25 birhts so it kinda works out.

[realitychec6]

... It's about TIME !! ... I have always wondered why alcohol never gets any bad press. The only thing we have seen in the past is how a "certain amount" is good for you... right. I have always known how bad this stuff is and couldn't believe nobody had the nerve to tell it like it is. They should give the statistics of how many marriages have been ruined, how many children have suffered by living with a drunk parent, how many people have been killed by drunk drivers, how many people have been killed by drunks period, and how many suicides have resulted from people drinking, and add that to the others. Of course, most of the people in power are drinkers, so they have kept this quiet. Cigarettes and tobacco products have been maligned dramatically, but "don't mess with my booze" has prevailed. TV commercials glorify drinking. These advertisements and people guzzling at sporting events certainly encourage our youth to drink. Yet there are no restrictions at all. Alcohol is worse than tobacco!

[AttentionDeficit]

formrusmcsgt: all i ask is that pot and alcohol both be legal, and let the market decide. pot will prevail

[johninpennsyl]

If you actually believe that the people who lie to you,steal from you,and allow shysters to rob your retirement funds give a rat's A$$ about your good health-then your as dumb as they think you are.