European Union Forums

[M.Helen]

Alcohol has become a real threat for this Northern part of UK - Scotland. It was stated that 999 men in Scotland and 448 women die every year from alcohol-related causes.
Moreover, you'll be surprised: in 2007, about 50 million litres of alcohol. If divided to each person aged over 16 it comes 11.8 litres. That is the equivalent of everyone over 16 drinking 570 pints of normal strength beer, or 125 bottles of wine or 42 bottles of vodka.
How do they fight this?

[Terry]

I am surprised at Scotland. I mean they probably surpassed even Russia, where alcohol is a considerable problem. Scottish authorities must have taken actions long time ago, in order to prevent what it was possible to prevent. But now, treating alcoholism is much expensive and will need significant budget allocations.

[Faw_Peter]

Scotland is now among such countries as Mexico, Ireland, Iceland. Hmm... I wonder why is the United Kingdom the focal of alcoholic settlements?

[Big_Becka]

It is very much part of our culture. People go out on a Friday night to relax after a week at work, and will go dancing/clubbing on a Saturday night. Throughout history, people have eaten fish and chips, and gone to the pub on Friday night. OK - nowadays maybe a curry or pizza... Your 18th birthday is an important milestone because it means you can go to the pub and drink.

In the past (my parents' generation), most people just went to your local pub for a pint of real ale or cider, or a small sherry In recent years people increasingly boast about how much they can drink and how 'wasted' they became. Women also drink very heavily. Until recently, this was not really viewed as a problem: when I went to university I was practically encouraged to drink heavily!

Now there are some advertising campaigns encouraging people to limit their alcohol intake. There are also alcohol-free zones in towns, because alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour is a big problem. The government are talking about stopping shops and bars selling very cheap alcohol.

I know that in other EU countries, like France and Itlay, people tend to drink with a meal instead, while talking with friends and family. In these countries, I have heard that the legal age at which people can drink is lower?

In Scotland, a large proportion off all heart attacks occur on a Monday, because people binge on alcohol and junk food over the weekend. The Scottish in particular are renowned for their love of high-fat food.

How do Russia and Iceland tackle heavy drinking?

[Guest]

This is a list of countries by alcohol consumption measured in litres of pure alcohol consumed per capita in a given year, according to the most recent data from the World Health Organization.
1 Uganda
2 Luxembourg
3 Czech Republic
4 Ireland
5 Moldova
6 Hungary
7 France
8 Réunion
9 Bermuda
10 Germany
11 Croatia
12 Austria
13 Portugal
14 Slovakia
15 Lithuania
16 Spain 12.25
17 Denmark
18 United Kingdom
19 Switzerland
20 Cyprus
21 Saint Lucia
22 Belgium
23 Russia

[Andrewz]

Unfortunately I feel embarrassed and am not surprised at all to see my country (Moldova) in the top five of this ranking...
What can I tell you... it must be true, and I really see it with my eyes. Not that we would be a country of some alcoholics, but, Moldovans really like to drink. Fortunately it's less regards hard drinks, and more concerns wine. We are a wine-making country, and it needs no comment.

[Steven]

How do Russia and Iceland tackle heavy drinking?

well, the problem is they don't do it. This is the problem that persists for already dozens of years in these countries. Vodka is Russia's most consumed drink. In Iceland I guess it's more about beer.

[Benn]

Scotland has recently passed a law that forbids solid promotions of alcohol. For example, such promotions as "two for the price of one" or buy one beer and you'll be given the second for free, are not allowed.

[Terry]

Scotland's new law focuses on punishment and prevention, rather than helping those who already have serious alcoholic problems. That is not quite correct. I mean if we start healing a disease, the organ that was mostly affected must be treated first.

[Big_Becka]

Scotland's new law focuses on punishment and prevention, rather than helping those who already have serious alcoholic problems. That is not quite correct. I mean if we start healing a disease, the organ that was mostly affected must be treated first.

I agree. Those people who are alchoholics will still find alcohol somehow: stealing their family's money, or buying cheap illegal vodka...

Unfortunately I feel embarrassed and am not surprised at all to see my country (Moldova) in the top five of this ranking...
What can I tell you... it must be true, and I really see it with my eyes. Not that we would be a country of some alcoholics, but, Moldovans really like to drink. Fortunately it's less regards hard drinks, and more concerns wine. We are a wine-making country, and it needs no comment.

Hmmm, but does Moldova have alchohol-related problems? I think the UK's - especially Scotland's - problems are due to our culture of binge-drinking. I.e. people might drink 10-15 pints of strong beer in one night, but then not drink all week. I have seen drunk people climbing on a police riot van and trying to tip it over!

For example, Germany ranks more highly than the UK for alcohol consumption, but I would not be frightened to go out in a German city at night: I feel very safe in Germany.

[Andrewz]

I wouldn't say Moldova has alcohol-related problems, it's just that we have too many occassions to drink - too many holidays... But, we will never afford ourselves to start street riots, it's probably because of our national trait. As a whole, we are friendly people, and regardlesss of how much Moldovans drink, they remain sober.

[Newrussian town]

Hey 23ed place for Russia? Za zdorovie comrades!!! No way I disagree

[Benn]

You may disagree Newrussianintown, but this is what statistics show. And I thought this is an indicator which is worth of shame rather than demnity. You wanna be among the most alcoholic-consuming countries?

[Newrussian town]

You may disagree Newrussianintown, but this is what statistics show. And I thought this is an indicator which is worth of shame rather than demnity. You wanna be among the most alcoholic-consuming countries?

No I don’t want. But we in Russia like to think that we can drink rather more alcohol than foreigners . You know what Russians think about alcohol for sure, and you can understand it . If I will come to my friends and say that we are only 23ed position, I think it will be a great celebration to lift our country up

[M.Helen]

I see your humour is still good newrussianintown
OK then, I found out that you're on the 23rd place because you consume only 10.3 litres of pure alcohol per person during one year. Can you do it more?

[Newrussian town]

I see your humour is still good newrussianintown
OK then, I found out that you're on the 23rd place because you consume only 10.3 litres of pure alcohol per person during one year. Can you do it more?

10 lt.? Of pure alcohol, so it is 20 bottles of standard vodka 0,5 lt in a bottle, for every child and finished alcoholic? Oh.... not bad I should say, very cool, it is rather more than I thought for Russia. But wait a minute, Scottish people are the first? They have beaten us in this case, now I realize who will rule the world, not we Thank you Helen, it is a pleasure to see you once again

[M.Helen]

Thanks, a pleasure to hear you as well
I see you revised your opinion I think the average per world must be no more than 1 litre per capita. It's too dangerous to have higher indexes in this context. Alcohol is the root of many problems among world countries.

[Newrussian town]

The world is going in the bad direction, so people prefer to drink rither live in it. Soon, when the Russia and EU will be a real friends........I would say something good, but....I think....oh, we all will be an alcoholics

[M.Helen]

Now now don't worry NR, we'll heal this bad habbit
You know, as the crisis hit Scotland, I think they will increase this average in their countries and will maintain the first position for a very very long time. People usually drink when tough times come... you know.

[Peach]

42 bottles of vodka per year? That really impresses, as it's almost one bottle per weak. :roll
maybe one of the reasons are the holidays? Maybe there are too many holidays in Scotland and people relax by... consuming alcohol drinks

[Riser]

Scotland also has a big problem with drug addicts. Thus, the death rate is very high because these two factors: drugs and alcohol. There must be a reason for that unhealthy life behaviour in Scotland...?

[Big_Becka]

Not really holidays... People will go out and drink that much on a Friday night, even if they have work the next day.

Scotland is a notoriously poor area. The rural areas have always been poor, and cities like Glasgow (known for its heroin addicts) no longer have the trading and ship-building industry that they once had.

[Laurentine]

Scotland is a notoriously poor area

I wouldn't say so. Gross Domestic Product of Scotland is over $30,000 per capita, which is already a sign of more-than-enough developed economic situation. I don't see how it could enter the black list of most alcoholic countries.

[M.Helen]

Maybe it's the Climate that make them drink permanently? I mean it's quite cold in Scotland all year round, and alcohol is a kind of non-polluting, natural, "green" energy

[Benn]

Scottish ministers envisage to create legal powers to introduce a "social responsibility fee" for some retailers. Also, it will introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol. Hope it worls