Lithuania is among the five countries that have reduced alcohol consumption the most, but one indicator obscures the joy

There are no significant changes in the latest statistics released by NTAKD, but there is a steady decline in alcohol consumption. In 2015, a Lithuanian had about 15.4 liters of pure alcohol, and according to 2019 statistics, this figure is 12.8 liters, 3 liters less.

“But that’s 35 percent. Above the European average,” NTaldD director Renaldas Čiužas told the press conference.

R. Čiužas also explained what the decrease in alcohol consumption means for Lithuania.

“It’s a less and less burden on taxpayers, less of a burden on hospitals. We see a lot of statistics showing that psychoses were reduced by about 30 percent and alcohol intoxication by about 27 percent. Addictions have been reduced. reduced by about 9 percent. The data we have today shows a positive change, “said R. Čiužas.

According to him, it is worrying that Lithuanian men continue to drink a lot of alcohol.

“A man in Lithuania consumes around 29.6 liters of absolute alcohol, but this is less than 5 years ago. And women have around 6 liters of pure alcohol,” said R. Čiužas.

Alcohol restrictions are believed to have helped reduce consumption.

Ingrida Zurlytė, director of the Representation of the World Health Organization in Lithuania, said that the highest alcohol consumption occurs in the European region, although in recent years trends have also improved here.

“The data we are talking about is presented in the World Health Statistics Report, which appeared in May 2021. […] The Czech Republic is the first in the world in terms of alcohol consumption, followed by Latvia. The situation of men in the world is worse, “said I. Zurlytė.

According to her, progress has been made in Lithuania with the introduction of a comprehensive alcohol control policy and restrictions.

“Restrictions on the availability of alcohol are important. The data shows that even a small change in restrictions on the availability of alcohol has an impact on violence, injuries, reduction of accidents, etc., especially among young people. Another measure is to ban alcohol advertising, one of the most effective measures is to raise alcohol prices, ”said I. Zurlytė.

According to her, it is very gratifying to see that in Lithuania the statistics related to alcohol-related diseases are also improving. The latest data is from 2016, according to which the WHO has estimated the percentage of alcohol-related deaths in the country.

“In Lithuania in 2010. In 2016, deaths from alcohol-related diseases accounted for 26.1%, and in 2016 24.5 percent. The burden is decreasing but is still very high. In Germany, this percentage is less than 6 “, – said I. Zurlytė.