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| In the last few years, China has relaxed import taxes on foreign beverages, specifically alcohol, making popular foreign brands accessible to China's new middle class. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI |
By Ed Adamczyk, UPI
More than one in 20 deaths worldwide is alcohol-related, a new analysis by the World Health Organization showed.
Using 2016 data, the 476-page report, titled, "Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018," indicates that more than three-quarters of the 3 million deaths involved men.
Of all deaths attributable to alcohol, 28 percent were due to traffic accidents, self-harm, violence and other injuries. Another 21 percent were classified as digestive disorders, with 19 percent due to cardiovascular diseases. The remaining 32 percent were attributed to infectious diseases, cancers, mental disorders and other health conditions in which alcohol use was involved.
"Far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems and diseases like cancer and stroke," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "It's time to step up action to prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies."
The report noted that disorders from alcohol use are most prevalent in Europe and what the Region of the Americas -- North America, the Caribbean and the northern half South America. Alcohol-related disorders are most prevalent in high-income countries, it added.
Worldwide, 45 percent of all alcohol is consumed as spirits, or liquor, followed by beer (34 percent,) and wine (12 percent). The report said more than half the world population -- 3.1 billion people -- abstain from alcohol.
While 95 percent of all countries have alcohol excise taxes, fewer than half use other price strategies, such as a ban on volume discount purchases. Most countries restrict alcohol advertising.
"We would like to see member states implement creative solutions that will save lives, such as taxing alcohol and restricting advertising," Tedros. "We must do more to cut demand and reach the target set by governments of a 10 percent relative reduction in consumption of alcohol globally between 2010 and 2025."
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