Alcohol responsible for one in 25 deaths worldwide

ONE in 25 deaths around the world is due to the abuse of alcohol, findings of a recent Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health study have found.

Most of the deaths caused by alcohol are a result of injury, cancer, cardiovascular disease and liver cirrhosis. It also is considered a significant contributory factor to disability and death through violence, suicide and homicide.

Alcohol is also the main cause of deaths on Australian roads. Canadian researcher Dr Jurgen Rehm said some parts of the world had an even high rate of alcohol related deaths, such as Europe where one in 10 deaths are linked to alcohol and particularly in Russia where the rate was more than one in seven.

Although smoking still takes a greater toll, alcohol now has the same burden of disease as smoking did nine years ago and is on the rise as drinking increases particularly in India and China.