High Alcohol Consumption Rates in Armenia

There is no safe level of alcohol consumption. This was stated by Armen Muradyan, rector of Yerevan State Medical University. According to the data he published, the proportion of men and women consuming alcoholic beverages in Armenia is 46% and 22%, respectively.

In the European region of the World Health Organization, the adult population consumes an average of 9.2 liters of pure alcohol per year, making them, globally, the highest consumers of alcoholic beverages. In this region, alcohol is a leading cause of death, responsible for nearly 800,000 deaths annually, with non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases and cancer being the primary causes of death.

When compared to some neighboring countries, Armenia's alcohol consumption rate is not high, at 3.77 liters per capita. In Russia, it stands at 7.29 liters, and in Georgia, 7.45 liters. It is lower in Azerbaijan at 1.38 liters, Turkey at 1.18 liters, and Iran at 0.02 liters.

Moreover, according to the results of the STEPS study conducted in 2016, the proportion of men and women consuming alcoholic beverages in Armenia was 46% and 22%, respectively.

Particularly concerning is the consumption of alcoholic beverages among the youth. According to the results of a study on the health behaviors of school-aged children in Armenia, 22% of 15-year-old boys and 26% of 17-year-olds consumed alcohol on 1-2 days within the past 30 days. This phenomenon is also prevalent among girls, with 18% of 15-year-olds and 20% of 17-year-olds reporting alcohol use in the past 30 days.

According to international statistical data, over 3 million people die each year worldwide due to alcohol-related causes (5.3% of all deaths), with alcohol abuse resulting in more deaths than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes.

Implementing evidence-based policies is crucial for protecting public health and reducing the burden on healthcare systems and communities related to alcohol consumption. A primary obstacle is that policymakers often face conflicting views when addressing alcohol-related issues.

The WHO European Regional Office has developed an alcohol policy handbook intended for policymakers, lawyers, and public health professionals. It addresses key questions regarding the impact of alcohol and the effectiveness of primary policies, including pricing, access control, marketing restrictions, labeling, measures to prevent driving under the influence, and the regulation of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol products.

The alcohol policy guidelines issued by the WHO aim to help regulatory bodies understand the risks associated with alcohol and to end the ongoing debate regarding alcohol policy by providing scientific data that confirm that:

• No amount of alcohol consumption is safe for health and cancer risk.
• Alcohol inflicts widespread harm on all segments of the population.
• Countries lose more than they gain from alcohol sales.
• Public policy is effective in health promotion and safety.

The implementation of anti-alcohol policies is developed for the benefit of three key stakeholder groups:

• Public officials involved in the development, implementation, assessment, legal enforcement, and monitoring of alcohol policy.
• Civil society organizations, including NGOs working in the field of policy advocacy, as well as local community advocates and leaders.
• Organizations providing community health services, groups of scientists and researchers engaged in the study of alcohol use, its harms, and related policy.

Based on the information disseminated by the WHO European Region Office, we present five important facts for policymakers, health professionals, and the general public regarding the connection between alcohol consumption and several cancers. This concerns not only individuals who consume alcohol but also their families, friends, and indeed everyone:

1. Alcohol is a major risk factor for at least seven types of cancer.
2. The most common types of cancer resulting from alcohol consumption differ between men and women.
3. The risk of developing cancer due to alcohol consumption increases shortly after the first intake of alcohol.
4. The use of tobacco, as well as alcohol, increases the likelihood of developing cancer.
5. Cancers resulting from alcohol consumption can be prevented.

Muradyan shared this information on Facebook.