Facts and figures
Alcohol is a major health challenge in the EU - here are some numbers
12.30.2014
Did you know?
- Alcohol is the 3rd top risk factor in Europe for ill health and NCDs such as cancer and cardiovascular disease
- Alcohol is a toxic substance in terms of its direct and indirect effects on a wide range of body organs and a cause of some 60 diseases
- 12 million people in the EU are dependent on alcohol
- Around 9 million children in the EU are living with one parent addicted to alcohol
- 1 of 4 road fatalities in EU are due to alcohol; in 2010 nearly 31,000 Europeans were killed on the roads of which 25% were related to alcohol
- Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to birth defects and developmental disorders. It may cause the unborn child physical, behavioural and learning disabilities
- The social cost attributable to alcohol is 155,8 billion Euro yearly (was third is now first bullet point)
- Alcohol is the leading risk for ill-health and premature death for the core of the working age population (25-59 year) (was first is now second bullet point)
- Alcohol is responsible 1 in 7 male deaths and 1 in 13 female deaths in the group aged 15–64 years, resulting in approximately 120 000 premature deaths