WHO: One in three injury and violence deaths in Europe linked to alcohol

One in three deaths from injuries and violence in the European Region is caused by alcohol, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported. Nearly 800,000 people die every year in Europe as a result of alcohol consumption.

According to WHO data for 2019, almost 145,000 injury-related deaths in the region were linked to alcohol use. The largest number of alcohol-related injuries resulted from road traffic accidents and falls.

“Alcohol is a toxic substance that not only causes seven types of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases, but also impairs judgment and self-control, slows reaction time, reduces coordination, and promotes risky behaviour,” explained Carina Ferreira-Borges, WHO Regional Adviser for Alcohol, Drugs and Prison Health in Europe.

The WHO notes that alcohol is “one of the strongest and most persistent contributing factors to violence and aggression.” In 2019, about 26,500 deaths in Europe were caused by “interpersonal violence,” and more than 40 per cent of these deaths were associated with alcohol consumption. Alcohol is also one of the main risk factors for disability and premature death among young people.

The WHO is particularly concerned about the impact of alcohol on adolescents and young adults. In this age group, alcohol is the leading cause of disability and premature death, primarily due to injuries.

According to WHO Regional Adviser for Road Safety Jonathon Passmore, young people are less likely to drink regularly but more likely to consume large amounts over a short period of time. This behaviour sharply increases the risk of road traffic accidents, drownings, falls, as well as violence and self-harm. In addition, alcohol negatively affects brain development, impairing memory, learning ability, and decision-making, which increases the likelihood of long-term consequences.

Significant regional differences in the level of alcohol-related injuries persist across Europe. The highest mortality rates are recorded in Eastern European countries. In some of them, more than half of all injury-related deaths are linked to alcohol, while in Western and Southern countries this figure often does not exceed 20 per cent.

Experts attribute this gap to differences in drinking culture, the prevalence of binge drinking, and the effectiveness of government control measures, ranging from sales regulation to access to treatment.

By Tamilla Hasanova