South Koreans generally drink the most alcohol per capita in Asia, driven by their strong culture of drinking soju, but data varies, with some sources showing Laos and Vietnam also high on the list, while within specific Asian-American groups, Japanese-Americans show higher rates of heavy drinking compared to Chinese-Americans. Cultural factors, genetic predispositions (like alcohol flushing response), and drinking habits (like drinking to get drunk quickly) all influence consumption patterns across different Asian populations.
NEW DELHI (ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - People in South Korea are the most prolific drinkers in Asia, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). South Koreans over the age of 15 on average drink 10.9 litres of alcohol a year.
Whites have greater odds than Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians for either a past-year or lifetime alcohol use disorder. Native Americans have greater odds than Whites for lifetime alcohol dependence but similar odds for lifetime alcohol abuse and past-year alcohol abuse and dependence.
However, with its bustling population of 19.12 million, Romania has also more recently become known as the “Drunkest Country on Earth.” Men in Romania are, by and large, the heaviest drinkers on the planet. The average Romanian male drinks 27.3 liters, roughly seven and a half gallons, per year.
Russia and Australia have the highest prevalence of alcohol dependence overall, with 2.61 per cent and 2.58 per cent, respectively. According to the WHO, US has the lowest rate of alcohol dependence with only 1.92 per cent.
Romania tops the list of countries with the highest alcohol consumption per person, with Georgia, Czechia, Latvia, and Germany rounding out the top five.
In 2019, the top 10 European countries with the highest alcohol consumption per capita were Czechia (14.3 litres), Latvia (13.2), Moldova (12.9), Germany (12.8), Lithuania (12.8), Ireland (12.7), Spain (12.7), Bulgaria (12.5), Luxembourg (12.4), and Romania (12.3).
In 2021, American Indian or Alaska Native (36.1%) or Multiracial people (34.6%) were more likely to have used illicit drugs in the past year compared with Black or African American (24.3%), White (22.5%), Hispanic or Latino (19.4%), or Asian people (11.1%).
The 1-2-3 drinking rule is a guideline for moderation: 1 drink per hour, no more than 2 drinks per occasion, and at least 3 alcohol-free days each week, helping to pace consumption and stay within safer limits. It emphasizes pacing alcohol intake with water and food, knowing standard drink sizes (12oz beer, 5oz wine, 1.5oz spirits), and avoiding daily drinking to reduce health risks, though some health guidance suggests even lower limits.
Do Australians, on average, drink more than the Irish? Do Australians, on average, drink more than the Irish? No. Average annual alcohol consumption in Ireland (around 11 litres) is higher than Australia (around 9.4 litres).
Variant alleles of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1B) genes are prevalent in individuals of Asian heritage and have been associated with an increased level of response to alcohol and a decreased risk for alcohol dependence.
The lowest rate of current drinking was among Hispanic women at 38.0% (95%CI= 34.1, 42.0), who also had a high rate of lifetime abstention at 40.8% (95%CI= 37.1, 44.6). Black women also had a low rate of current drinking at 44.2% (95%CI= 40.0, 48.5), but abstainers were more likely to be former drinkers in this group.
1. Mining, Quarrying, And Oil Workers. Miners, including both above and below ground, oil rig workers, rock splitters, excavators, and all others who work in the mining, drilling, and quarrying industry, have the highest rate of alcohol abuse of any profession.
China is famous for its tea, but it is also home to the world's most consumed spirit, the world's most consumed beer, and a centuries-old tradition of grain-based wines.
“There is no question that alcoholism is increasing in Japan,” says Dr. Hiorakai Kono, former director of the National Institute of Alcoholism in Tokyo. “What astonishes us is the size of the problem.”
Due to genomic differences, 80 per cent of Asians have an overactive alcohol dehydrogenase. Hence, they break down alcohol into acetaldehyde very quickly – even up to 100 times quicker. Since alcohol is broken down faster, this is why you might experience little to no alcohol “buzz”.
Usually this is based on behaviour over the last 12 months or more, but alcohol dependence could be diagnosed based on continuous (daily or almost daily) for at least one month.
Two fingers means a single pour. Three fingers means a double pour. Served neat in a rocks glass. It's old school.
If you do experience early symptoms of ARLD, these are often quite vague, such as:
The United States is believed to be home to the world's worst drug problems. Although this is a known fact, other countries also experience high rates of drug addiction and abuse.
According to research from Columbia University, the following rates of disordered gambling have been found:
Alcohol. Alcohol is the most regularly used addictive substance in America, with nearly 29 million people aged 12 or older having a past year alcohol use disorder in 2023.
Liters of alcohol consumed per capita in selected European countries 2022. In 2022, Latvia consumed 11.9 liters of alcohol per capita, which was the highest among European countries. Spain had the second-highest alcohol consumption per capita, at 11.8 liters, with Turkey having the lowest at 1.6 liters.
Results. Alcohol was the most frequently used substance, with a 30-day prevalence of 70.5% (36.1 million people), followed by non-opioid analgesic drugs (47.4%; 24.2 million) and conventional tobacco products (22.7%; 11.6 million).