WHO says who's drinking

The World Health Organization, WHO, just released its Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health. Excerpts include:

"Alcohol consumption and problems related to alcohol vary widely around the world, but the burden of disease and death remains significant in most countries. Alcohol consumption is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and disability; in middle-income countries, it is the greatest risk. Alcohol is a causal factor in 60 types of diseases and injuries and a component cause in 200 others. Almost 4% of all deaths worldwide are attributed to alcohol, greater than deaths caused by HIV/AIDS, violence or tuberculosis. Alcohol is also associated with many serious social issues, including violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace.

"The harmful use of alcohol is a particularly grave threat to men. It is the leading risk factor for death in males ages 15–59, mainly due to injuries, violence and cardiovascular diseases. Globally, 6.2% of all male deaths are attributable to alcohol, compared to 1.1% of female deaths. Men also have far greater rates of total burden attributed to alcohol than women – 7.4% for men compared to 1.4% for women. Men outnumber women four to one in weekly episodes of heavy drinking – most probably the reason for their higher death and disability rates. Men also have much lower rates of abstinence compared to women. Lower socioeconomic status and educational levels result in a greater risk of alcohol-related death, disease and injury – a social determinant that is greater for men than women.

"Worldwide per capita consumption of alcoholic beverages in 2005 equaled 6.13 litres of pure alcohol consumed by every person aged 15 years or older.  The highest consumption levels can be found in the developed world, mostly the Northern Hemisphere, but also in Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Medium consumption levels can be found in southern Africa, with Namibia and South Africa having the highest levels, and in North and South America. Low consumption levels can be found in the countries of North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean region, and southern Asia and the Indian Ocean. These regions represent large populations of the Islamic faith, which have very high rates of abstention.

"Globally, 45% of the world’s population has never consumed alcohol (men: 35%; women: 55%). In addition, 13.1% (men: 13.8%; women: 12.5%) have not consumed alcohol during the past year. In conclusion, almost half of all men and two thirds of all women worldwide have abstained from drinking alcohol in the past 12 months."

In other news, global spirits company Diageo announced today its largest acquisition in a decade, acquiring Turkish spirits company Mey Içki Sanayi ve Ticaret AS for $2.11 billion, giving Diageo access to a vast distribution network for its brands.  According to The Wall Street Journal:

"But Turkey, though a secular democracy, is predominantly Muslim—and alcohol consumption, forbidden under Islam, has become a point of contention in recent months, with the conservative-leaning ruling party tightening regulations on booze. In January, the government banned the use of drink-company names in sports clubs, restricted advertising that promotes drinking and confined alcohol sales to stores in sequestered areas. The move—criticized by some of the ruling party's opponents as emblematic of a hidden Islamist agenda—came just a few months after the government raised a special tax on alcohol by 30%."