The health consequences of alcohol are measured a little more precisely.
Excessive consumption causes the populations of 52 countries to lose on average nearly a year of life expectancy, due to the illnesses and accidents it causes, a report from the OECD (Organization for Cooperation and Development) shows this Wednesday. economic development).
"Life expectancy will be nearly a year (0.9) lower over the next 30 years due to illnesses and injuries" caused by "harmful alcohol consumption", calculates the OECD. The 52 countries in the study are part of the European Union, the Group of 20 (G20 made up of the 20 richest countries as well as the European Union), or simply the OECD.
The international organization encourages countries to "redouble their efforts to combat" this phenomenon, in particular by limiting the promotion of alcohol to children and by encouraging higher prices.
The eight most affected countries are all in Central and Eastern Europe, with 1.4 to 1.8 years less life expectancy, with Lithuania, Russia and Poland topping the rankings.
France is just above the average, while Turkey and Israel appear to be the least concerned.
Consequences on the wealth of countries
There is no level of alcohol consumption scientifically recognized as safe for health.
In the context of this report, the OECD defines "harmful alcohol consumption" as excess "a lower risk threshold" set at "more than one drink of alcohol per day for women and 1.5 drinks for women. men ".
The results are obtained by comparing life expectancy in 2050 if current consumption habits persist with a scenario where consumption does not exceed this “lower risk threshold”.
The OECD also puts the burden at 2.4% of total health spending and estimates that GDP will be 1.6% lower on average every year in OECD countries over the next 30 years if things are do not change.
The data in this report predates the Covid-19 pandemic. But according to a survey carried out in May and June 2020 in 11 countries, a little after the start of the pandemic, while 42% of those questioned declared that they had not changed their alcohol consumption, 36% believed that they had increased it when only 22% say they have reduced it. "Women, parents of young children, high income earners, and those with symptoms of depression and anxiety" are those who "reported the largest increases in alcohol use."
According to the organization, "the most effective strategy" to fight against harmful alcohol consumption is to "limit the promotion of alcohol to children", "strengthen police checks to prevent accidents. the road due to alcohol ”,“ develop the offer of consultations for patients at risk ”and“ set pricing policies to limit the affordability of alcohol ”.
