Alcohol consumption in Europe is a subject of constant debate, evolving public health policies, and significant lifestyle change. Over the last few decades, Europe’s drinking habits have transformed remarkably, encouraging hopeful outcomes for some countries, whilst raising concern for others. This blog post uncovers the nuanced details of Europe’s relationship with alcohol, focusing on the trends seen between 2010 and 2020, with an emphasis on both overall reductions and stark national differences.

Changing Europe Drinking Habits: A Decade in Review

The latest data reveals a gradual yet meaningful shift in alcohol consumption in Europe. Between 2010 and 2020, average alcohol consumption in the European Union (EU) dropped by 0.5 litres per person. This means European drinking habits are, on the whole, moving in a more moderate direction.

Zooming out, the decrease is even more impactful over a longer timeline. Since 1980, overall alcohol consumption in Europe has declined by 2.9 litres, down from 12.7 litres per person (aged 15 and over) to 9.8 litres in 2020. That’s a 23% reduction, reflecting efforts by governments and communities to encourage healthier living.

Alcohol Consumption in Europe Remains Highest Globally

Despite this positive trajectory, alcohol consumption in Europe is still higher than in any other world region. The World Health Organization (WHO) European Region, which includes the EU plus surrounding nations like Russia, saw average consumption drop from 12 litres per person in 2000 to 9.5 litres in 2020. This average works out to 190 litres of beer, 80 litres of wine, or 24 litres of spirits per adult each year.

While lifestyle campaigns such as “Dry January” suggest an appetite for change, the ongoing figure of nearly 10 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year highlights the cultural and social role that drinking continues to play across Europe.

Countries Bucking the Trend: Not All Europe Drinking Habits Are Equal

Although many EU nations have reduced their alcohol consumption, several European countries have seen the opposite. When comparing data for 36 European countries (including EU, UK, EFTA and candidate nations), certain nations stand out.

The Decliners

• Ireland and Lithuania lead with impressive drops of 2.1 litres per person.
• Spain and Greece follow close behind, down by 2.0 litres each.
• The Netherlands, France, Cyprus, and Finland each saw declines over 1.5 litres.
• Other notable decreases over one litre were observed in Serbia, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany.

Not only did these countries reduce total alcohol intake, but some also posted double-digit percentage declines. For instance, Greece managed a 24.1% reduction, while Spain and the Netherlands saw decreases around 20%.

The Risers

However, some nations moved in the opposite direction, with rising alcohol consumption in recent years:

• Latvia posted Europe’s highest increase, rising by 2.3 litres per person between 2010 and 2020.
• Bulgaria (+1.4 litres), Malta (+1.1 litres), Romania and Poland (both +1.0 litre) also recorded substantial rises.
• Smaller but notable upticks appeared in Norway, Italy, and Iceland.

By percentage gains, Latvia also led the pack, with a 23.5% rise in alcohol consumption since 2010.

Country-by-Country Snapshot: Where Does Europe Drink the Most?

The patterns of alcohol consumption in Europe paint a vivid picture of national preferences:

• Latvia logged the continent’s highest rate in 2020, at 12.1 litres per adult.
• Czechia followed with 11.6 litres, slightly up from its 2010 figure.
• Lithuania reported 11.4 litres, though this was a marked decline from 2010.
• Austria landed at 11.3 litres, with Bulgaria rounding out the top five at 11.2 litres.

Prominent countries like Germany (10.6 litres), France (10.4 litres), and the UK (9.7 litres) also remained above the Western European average. Italy (7.7 litres) and Spain (7.8 litres) dropped notably lower, contributing to the overall EU average of 9.8 litres.

Policies Impacting Alcohol Consumption in Europe

The reduction in Europe drinking habits is not merely by chance. Governments have introduced a variety of alcohol control measures, including:

• Increased taxation on alcoholic drinks.
• Limits on hours and venues of sale.
• Restrictions or bans on alcohol advertising.

However, varied implementation and budget constraints can limit these policies’ effectiveness. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes that poor enforcement remains a barrier to further progress.

Heavy Episodic Drinking: Who Is Drinking The Most?

While average alcohol consumption in Europe is instructive, “heavy episodic drinking” offers a revealing look at dangerous patterns. Defined as consuming 60 grams or more of pure ethanol (roughly six standard drinks) in a single setting, this behaviour has clear health risks.

Key insights from 2019 data include:

• Nearly one in five EU adults (19%) reported heavy episodic drinking at least once a month.
• The trend has hardly shifted since 2014.

Men vs Women

• Men are much more likely to report heavy episodic drinking than women (26.6% of men vs. 11.4% of women in the EU).
• The largest gender gap was observed in Turkey and Cyprus, where men were over eight times as likely as women to report this behaviour.

By country:

• Romania leads with 55.2% of adult men engaging in binge drinking monthly.
• High rates among men were also found in Denmark (48.6%), Luxembourg (46%), Germany (38.7%), and Belgium (37.4%).

For women, Denmark topped the charts (26%), with Luxembourg (23.5%) and Germany (22.2%) not far behind. At the opposite end, Italy, Cyprus, and Turkey reported the lowest rates for women, all below 1%.

Education and Socioeconomic Status

Contrary to some assumptions, heavy alcohol use is often higher among those with upper secondary or tertiary education, especially in Western and Northern Europe. This likely connects with greater purchasing power, as alcohol is often more affordable for highly educated, higher-earning individuals. Yet, the adverse consequences of drinking tend to fall disproportionately on those with lower socio-economic status.

At the other end of the scale, southern and eastern countries reported low rates of heavy drinking among those with little formal education, except for outliers like Latvia.

Is There Such a Thing as ‘Safe’ Drinking?

Current medical and scientific opinion is unanimous and clear. According to the WHO, there is no safe level of alcohol use. Every drink, no matter how small, increases risk to health, from cancer to cardiovascular and liver disease.

Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges of the WHO’s Regional Office for Europe remarks, “We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop.”

This underscores the ongoing relevance of sustained prevention efforts, aiming to encourage responsible choices regarding alcohol consumption in Europe.

The Changing Face of Europe’s Drinking Habits

Examining Europe drinking habits reveals a dynamic interplay of policy, personal choice, social shifts, and education. While many countries in Europe are drinking less, and these statistics show a positive trend, the continent remains a global leader in alcohol consumption.

Differences by country, gender, and education level illustrate why continual monitoring and preventive focus are needed. Lowering alcohol consumption in Europe not only benefits public health but reduces societal harm, lost productivity, and hospital admissions.

Source: Euro News