Facts and myths about alcohol consumption

For decades, there have been research papers upon research papers that point to one fact: Moderate drinking is good for your health. However, a new survey might put an end to that myth.

According to the British Medical Journal, earlier studies supporting health benefits of alcohol consumption may have exaggerated the effects.

High alcohol consumption has been linked to more than 200 diseases and chronic ailments. British and Australian researchers now say that earlier studies falsified the results in favor of moderate drinking because the studies didn’t distinguish between nondrinkers and less healthy former drinkers in the “nondrinker” group.

Alcohol use and abuse contributes to many diseases, including cancer, cirrhosis, while it kills 3.3 million people a year, which is 6% of global deaths, according to the WHO.

Belarusians consume 17.5 liters of pure alcohol per year, compared to Russians who down 15.1 liters. Germans consume 11.8 literas per year, and in the UK, people consume an average of 11.6 liters per year. The two eastern European countries are in the top 5 of countries with alcohol consumption.  Europeans drink more than people in North America or Asia.

In developing countries (China, India), alcohol consumption is on the rise. Men and women in the growing middle class are able to afford imported liquors, like German beers or French wines.

In North Africa, and the Middle east, people drink less than anywhere else in the world, since alcohol is considered “Haram” – unpure and forbidden to muslims. As such their consumption is merely 0.1 liters a year.