Europeans consume the most alcohol globally

Europeans consume the most alcohol globally which puts them at higher risk of developing digestive cancers, according to a report issued by the United European Gastroenterology (UEG).

A previous report by the same nonprofit coalition of specialists found that pancreatic cancer will become the third leading cause of death from cancer in the EU in 2017, behind lung and colorectal cancer.

Doctors found that European citizens drink an average of two alcoholic drinks per day, enough to classify them as “moderate” drinkers and increase the risk of colorectal and oesophagal cancers by 21%.

Alcohol consumption in Europe is the highest in the world, with over 20% of Europeans over 15 drinking heavily – more than four alcoholic drinks- at least once a week.

Professor Helena Cortez-Pinto, a gastroenterologist at Hospital Universitario de Santa Maria In Lisbon emphasised that most of the people are not aware of the connection between cancer and alcohol.

“The majority of people aren’t aware that alcohol is a risk factor in these cancers,” said Professor Helena Cortez-Pinto, a gastroenterologist at Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria in Lisbon.

“This epidemiological evidence is clear about the association,” added Cortez-Pinto.

However, nearly one in every four deaths from gastrointestinal diseases can be attributed to alcohol intake, according to a World Health Organization report from 2014.

An important challenge in addressing the high drinking levels is linked with the fact that alcohol consumption is deeply embedded within the European society, both socially and culturally.

The group of specialists analysed data from the World Health Organization, which shows that Europeans consume more alcohol than people on any other continent, with an average of 11.2 liters of alcohol per year.

In 2014 the World Health Organisation found that nearly one in every 20 deaths globally were caused by alcohol consumption, and predicted a rise in cancers from 14 million to almost 22 million cases between 2012 and 2030. At the same time, annual deaths from cancer are expected to rise from 8.2 million to 13 million, the group believes.

The United European Gastroenterology (UEG) found that Europe has the highest proportion of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths.

Lithuanians consume on average 3.2 drinks a day

Lithuania has the highest drinking average, at 3.2 drinks per day or 18.2 litres of pure alcohol per person per year. No EU country has ‘light’ consumption, or fewer than one per day.

The Lithuanian government has begun to impose stricter rules on alcohol consumption, banning alcohol advertising, prohibiting alcohol sales between 8 pm and 10 am and by raising the drinking age to 20 from 18.

The top three is completed by Poland and the United Kingdom. In January 2016 the UK government altered its alcohol guidelines, changing recommendation of alcohol consumption for both men and women to 14 units of alcohol per week from 21 units for men.

By comparison, drinkers in the US are drinking the equivalent of 1.6 drinks a day, while the average African drinks half the amount.

The American Cancer Society supported the report’s findings, explaining that “limiting alcohol use to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women could have many health benefits, including a lower risk of colorectal cancer.”