British drinking is among world's highest

The level of drinking in Britain is among the 20 highest in the world, research suggests. 

The average Briton drinks more than 13 litres of pure alcohol a year, higher than the European average and equivalent to nearly 500 pints of beer, according to figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Beer accounts for 43 per cent of the alcohol drunk, with 30 per cent wine and 21 per cent spirits. The report also shows that deaths from liver cirrhosis have risen in recent years, and that one in 15 men in the country is an alcoholic.

It warns: “Alcohol consumption is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and disability; in middle-income countries, it is the greatest risk.

“Alcohol is a causal factor in 60 types of diseases and injuries and a component cause in 200 others. Almost four per cent of all deaths worldwide are attributed to alcohol, greater than deaths caused by HIV/Aids, violence or tuberculosis. Alcohol is also associated with many serious social issues, including violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace.”

The WHO recommends that all countries implement tough policies on drinking to improve public health and reduce the costs associated with treating alcohol-related disease. It said analysis has shown that raising alcohol tax decreases drinking levels, including among problem drinkers and young people.