A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that India's alcohol-related death rates are more than twice that of China.
The report indicates a concerning trend of increasing alcohol consumption in India, particularly among teenagers aged 15-19 years, with a tendency towards binge drinking.
The WHO report projects a significant rise in India's per capita alcohol consumption over the next six years. Currently, the number of alcohol-related deaths in India is 38.5 per 100,000 population (both sexes), compared to China's 16.1. The disparity is even more pronounced among males, with India reporting 63.0 deaths per 100,000 compared to China's 29.6. For females, the figures are 13.5 in India versus 3.3 in China.
The report also highlights that over 31 percent of Indians are current drinkers, with alcohol consumption among males (40.9 percent) being substantially higher than among females (20.8 percent).
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, emphasized the severe impact of substance use on individual health, including an increased risk of chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and preventable deaths. He noted the heavy burden this places on families and communities, leading to higher exposure to accidents, injuries, and violence.
A concerning trend noted in the report is the high rate of binge drinking among Indian teenagers, with 7.1 percent of males and 5.2 percent of females aged 15-19 engaging in heavy episodic drinking.
In 2019, India's per capita alcohol consumption was 4.9 liters, which is projected to rise to 6.7 liters by 2030. In comparison, the global average stands at 5.5 liters, with the European region leading at 9.2 liters, followed by the Americas at 7.5 liters.