Alcohol consumption is a major contributor to global ill health, disability, and death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is responsible for 3 million deaths each year worldwide, accounting for 5.1% of the global burden of disease. Alcohol attributable deaths make up a significant portion of these, directly linked to alcohol use. The overall number of alcohol-related deaths highlights the scale of the problem, with millions affected annually. In the United States alone, thousands of people aged 18 to 22 die each year due to alcohol-related causes, including car accidents and other unintentional injuries. This figure includes an estimated 1,519 college students aged 18 to 24 who die from alcohol-related injuries annually. The WHO estimates that alcohol is the cause of 5.3% of all human deaths per year.
Alcohol deaths specifically refer to fatalities caused by alcohol-related health conditions, such as liver disease. Death rates from alcohol-related causes vary significantly by region, age, and gender, with some populations facing much higher risks. Deaths attributable to alcohol can be categorized into noncommunicable diseases, injuries, and communicable diseases, reflecting the broad health burden. This means that approximately 1 in 20 deaths worldwide is due to an alcohol-related illness, injury, accident, murder or suicide. This rate is higher than that of HIV, which causes less than 2% of deaths worldwide, and non-alcohol-related violence, which causes less than 1%. It’s important to note that occasional drinking may be fine, but drinking too much can be deadly. In fact, alcohol-related deaths number about 3 million each year worldwide. Noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, are major contributors to alcohol-related mortality. Alcohol also worsens other health conditions, increasing the risk of complications and death. The risks associated with alcohol use include a higher likelihood of chronic diseases, injuries, and mental health issues. Alcohol use is also linked to self harm and suicide, especially among young people.
There are significant disparities in alcohol-related health outcomes globally. In low income countries, death rates per litre of alcohol consumed are highest, reflecting increased vulnerability. Across african regions, the WHO tracks and compares alcohol-related health issues, highlighting differences in consumption rates, death tolls, and policy interventions. People living in rural or underserved areas often experience higher alcohol death rates compared to those in urban settings. A decade ago, trends in alcohol consumption and related health impacts were already concerning, and recent data show that the problem persists or has worsened in many regions.
Harmful use of alcohol causes a high burden of disease and has significant social and economic consequences. Alcohol use can have an impact not only on the incidence of illnesses, injuries and other health problems, but also on their results and how they evolve over time. Alcohol dependence is prevalent among those with alcohol use disorders and significantly impacts public health outcomes. Many people live with alcohol dependence or complications from long-term alcohol use, affecting their quality of life. The Global Alcohol and Health Information System (GISAH) is an essential tool for assessing and monitoring the health situation and trends related to alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harm and policy responses in countries. It can help identify areas where interventions are needed to reduce the burden of alcohol-related harm. Access to treatment services ranged widely across countries, with many lacking adequate resources. Making treatment for substance use disorders accessible is crucial to reducing the health and social consequences of alcohol and drug use. Substance abuse, including alcohol and drug use, often intersects with mental health issues and other comorbidities. Drug use, alongside alcohol, contributes significantly to global mortality and highlights the need for prevention and treatment strategies. The burden on health systems is also evident in the high number of emergency department visits related to alcohol and substance use disorders. Opioid overdoses represent another major cause of preventable deaths, comparable in scale to alcohol-related fatalities.
The vast majority of those who die from the long-term effects of heavy drinking die due to alcoholic liver disease. People with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are more likely to seek care from a primary care physician for an alcohol-related medical problem than specifically for drinking too much alcohol. Driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous because it affects your ability to reason, think clearly, judge or follow traffic laws.
The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has emphasized the need for bold actions to address the global burden of alcohol and drug use. Policymakers and the global community must urgently commit to comprehensive measures to prevent and treat substance use disorders.
Communities estimate that between 1 and 5 percent of first-degree children have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Alcohol poisoning is a significant risk of heavy drinking or drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. In many societies today, alcoholic beverages are a routine part of the social landscape for many members of the population. Drinking alcohol by a future mother can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and complications in preterm labor. Alcohol is a factor in the deaths of thousands of people under the age of 21 in the United States each year. In severe cases of alcohol poisoning, a person may go into a coma, stop breathing or suffer a heart attack or seizures. A study conducted by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association on Friday.
Introduction to the Problem
Alcohol consumption is recognized by the World Health Organization as a major global health threat, tragically resulting in approximately 2.6 million deaths each year. Alcohol use disorders affect an estimated 400 million people worldwide, including vulnerable populations such as children as young as 15 years old. The alcohol industry plays a significant role in increasing alcohol availability and targeting at-risk groups, which leads to higher rates of alcohol use and, consequently, more alcohol-related harm. These harms extend far beyond individual health, contributing to a wide range of negative health consequences, including chronic diseases like liver and cardiovascular diseases, mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and communicable diseases. Alcohol-related injuries, road accidents, and domestic violence are just some of the severe outcomes linked to excessive alcohol use. Addressing the widespread problem of alcohol consumption and its associated harms is essential to reducing the global burden of disease and building a healthier, more equitable society for all.
Understanding the Impact
The impact of alcohol-related deaths is profound, with the World Health Organization estimating that 2.6 million deaths each year are directly attributable to alcohol consumption—accounting for 4.7% of all global deaths. Men are disproportionately affected, but the consequences touch every segment of society. Alcohol use disorders significantly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, and several types of cancer. Beyond physical health, alcohol consumption is closely linked to mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, and can worsen existing health problems. The social consequences are equally alarming: alcohol use contributes to violence, accidents, and a range of social problems that disrupt families and communities. Understanding the full scope of alcohol’s impact on individual health and society is crucial for developing effective prevention and reduction strategies that can save lives and improve well-being worldwide.
Reducing the Toll
Reducing the devastating toll of alcohol-related harm requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach. Prevention, early intervention, and accessible treatment services are all critical components in addressing alcohol consumption and its consequences. Brief intervention programs have demonstrated success in reducing alcohol-related harms and are increasingly being adopted in various regions. Data-driven, interdisciplinary strategies that consider cultural influences on alcohol use are essential for effective reduction efforts. The alcohol industry must also be held accountable for its role in promoting consumption and contributing to alcohol-related harm. The World Health Organization calls for renewed global commitment to Sustainable Development Goal Plan 3.5, which emphasizes strengthening prevention and treatment services for alcohol and other substance use disorders. Substance use, including alcohol, severely harms individual health by increasing the risk of chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and millions of preventable deaths each year. By working together to address alcohol-related harms, we can reduce preventable deaths, lessen social consequences, and promote a healthier, more equitable society for all.
