The world’s top 10 heaviest drinking countries

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), people in the UK are among the most prolific drinkers in the world but not among the global top 10.

17:11 13 May 2014

The World Health Organisation has released the list of top 10 heaviest drinking countries in the world. Their research reveals that while people in the UK are among the most prolific drinkers worldwide, the nation doesn’t edge into the top 10. 

 

However, the number one spot was taken by Belarus with people on average drinking 17.5 litres of pure alcohol per year. It was followed by the Republic of Moldova and Lithuania. 

 

Britons over the age of 15 on average drink 11.6 litres of pure alcohol a year – a high amount in the eyes of WHO but not high enough to rank among the global 10 drinking nations. 

 

Australia and Canada missed out on the list with people on average drinking 12.2 and 10.2 litres a year respectively. United States registered an average of 9.2 litres per person every year. 

 

Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO assistant director-general for non-communicable diseases and mental health, said: “More needs to be done to protect populations from the negative health consequences of alcohol consumption.

 

"The report clearly shows that there is no room for complacency when it comes to reducing the harmful use of alcohol.”

 

Dr Shekhar Saxena, director for mental health and substance abuse at WHO, said: “We found that worldwide about 16 per cent of drinkers engage in heavy episodic drinking - often referred to as 'binge-drinking' - which is the most harmful to health.

 

"Lower-income groups are more affected by the social and health consequences of alcohol. They often lack quality health care and are less protected by functional family or community networks."

 

The world’s top 10 heaviest drinking countries

 

1. Belarus – 17.5 litres

2. Republic of Moldova – 16.8 litres

3. Lithuania – 15.4 litres

4. Russian Federation – 15.1 litres

5. Romania – 14.4 litres

6. Ukraine – 13.9 litres

7. Andorra – 13.8 litres

8. Hungary – 13.3 litres

9. Czech Republic and Slovakia – 13 litres

10. Portugal – 12.9 litres

 

The figures represent the average amount of pure alcohol consumed per capita in each country between the years of 2008 and 2010.