December 15th, 2010

Alcohol consumption related deaths are the third leading cause of death for Europeans, behind Tobacco-related deaths and high blood pressure.  Consuming alcohol daily is to blame, and over the span of the year the average European consumes 11 litres of pure alcohol.

That’s a lot of booze! As an American, I have to admit that I’ve probably had 11 glasses of wine over the past year, and that’s the extent of my alcohol consumption. Why? Alcohol is expensive. I find it far more enjoyable to savor one glass of wine at a dinner party than it is to grab a beer and plop down in front of my TV.

One in 7 European “adults” which for a recent study is defined as an individual over the age of 15, consume 18-35 cl of alcohol per week, and one in five binge on 44cl of alcohol or more at least once per week.

For purpose of measurement, a 35 cl container of alcohol would have 14 servings of alcohol.  Approximately 25 ml of alcohol is a single serving.

Ironically, the study shows that daily drinking is worse than occasional drinking once or twice per week.  Liver damage is associated with daily drinking to a greater extent.

One researcher was quoted by a press release as saying “To evaluate the risks effectively, there is a need for the standardisation of alcohol measures across the EU. There remains a widespread misunderstanding amongst consumers of exactly what comprises a unit of alcohol, making it a challenge for patients to accurately understand how their alcohol intake truly affects their health.”

In the US, alcohol units are standardized, so doctors and patients can discuss how their alcohol consumption truly affects their health.