Alcohol Consumption Every year, on average, every German drinks a full bath

Yearbook Addiction: The Germans are still drinking too much

The people in Germany drink more than average alcohol. On average, every German citizen consumes almost 134 liters of alcoholic beverages per year, as much as fits in a bathtub. This is the conclusion of the Department for Addiction Issues (DHS) in the current "Yearbook Addiction". The experts are in favor of taking measures to reduce alcohol consumption.

Alcohol harms the health

High alcohol consumption damages your health. Persistently drinking too much, according to experts, can damage all organs of the body. Alcohol increases the risk of numerous diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, fatty liver, nerve damage and various cancers such as colon cancer. Nevertheless, for many people a social evening with friends or a pub visit without alcoholic drinks is almost unimaginable. Years ago, research showed that alcohol consumption in Germany is much too high. Unfortunately, there is "no change", as the main office for addiction issues (DHS) reports: "In Germany, too much is drunk," write the experts.

Every German citizen drinks on average almost 134 liters of alcoholic beverages per year. That's as much as fits in a bathtub. Health experts call for measures to reduce alcohol consumption. (Image: Monkey Business / fotolia.com)

Consumption dropped to very high consumption

Although the consumption of alcohol in Germany falls, but only from an extremely high to a very high consumption. This emerges from the new "Yearbook Addiction 2018", which has just been published by the German Department for Addiction Issues (DHS).

Accordingly, in 2015, alcohol consumption was 10.7 liters of pure alcohol per German citizen over the age of 15 years.

Total consumption of alcoholic beverages fell in 2016 compared to the previous year by 1.25 percent to 133.8 liters per capita.

The total consumption of alcohol, measured in pure alcohol per capita, accounts for 5.0 liters of beer, 2.3 liters of wine, 1.8 liters of spirits and 0.4 liters of sparkling wine.

Alcohol reduces the quality of life and shortens the lifetime

Alcohol is not a cure, on the contrary: it reduces the quality of life and drastically shortens the lifetime. The less alcohol is consumed, the lower the risk of cancer and circulatory diseases.

Although there was a slight decline in consumption here in Germany, as in other nations, no all-clear can be given.

High alcohol consumption is closely linked to life expectancy and the burden of disease for Germany. "Alcohol drinking is one of the top 4 behaviors that ruin your health, along with tobacco smoking, lack of exercise and an unbalanced diet," DHS writes.

Alcohol consumption leads to death very early in life and was therefore classified as dangerous. 200 diseases are caused by the consumption. Nevertheless, alcohol is marketed as attractive.

Accordingly, in Germany, social norms are too alcohol-oriented and alcohol advertising is a problem for everyone's health. "The goal must be to reduce the consumption of alcohol throughout the nation," said the DHS.

Children suffer most from passive drinking

The experts also demand effective protection for bystanders, because: "Passive drinking affects even bystanders massively in almost all areas of life."

According to DHS, relatives and children suffer most from passive drinking. Passive drinking is therefore dramatically for the unborn and children.

According to a recent Europe-wide study, more than a quarter of women in Germany drink alcohol during pregnancy.

Every year, 10,000 children in Germany suffer from alcohol - mentally and physically ("Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder" FASD). These damages are not reversible, many of them need lifelong care.

In total, experts from around 1.5 million people expect a FASD in Germany. Conclusion: There is no harmless amount of alcohol for pregnant women.

The DHS is in favor of a "protection of adolescents, children and the child in the womb". This can be achieved, inter alia, through preventive measures such as price increases.

Consumption of pipe tobacco has increased sharply

In addition to alcohol consumption, smoking is also highlighted in the "Yearbook Addiction".

The consumption of cigarettes and pipe tobacco has risen again according to DHS 2017: In Germany, 75,838 million cigarettes were consumed. Compared to 75,016 million units in the previous year, this represents an increase of 1.1 percent.

The consumption of pipe tobacco has increased enormously. The increase from 2,521 tonnes in 2016 to 3,245 tonnes in 2017 corresponds to 28.7%.

Illegal drugs

Based on the latest population surveys in 2015, approximately 479,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years and 14.4 million adults aged 18 to 64 have consumed at least one drug in their lifetime.

Cannabis continues to be the most prevalent illicit drug in all age groups and has been consumed by 7.3 percent of 12- to 17-year-old adolescents and 6.1 percent of 18- to 64-year-old adults over the last 12 months.

But the legal drugs alcohol, tobacco and drugs are responsible for most of the addiction problem in Germany.

According to the DHS, behavioral and proportional prevention must be used comprehensively and continuously so that Germany finally leaves the international top spots in the harmful consumption of legal drugs. (Ad)