Average volume of alcohol consumption, drinking patterns and related burden of mortality in young people in established market economies of Europe

Objective:To determine the burden of mortality in young people (age 15-29) in established market economies in Europe in 1999, which is attributable to alcohol consumption. Two dimensions of alcohol consumption were considered : average volume of consumption, and patterns of drinking. Methods. Mortali ty data were obtained from the WHO EIP data bank, average volume data from the WHO global databank on alcohol, pattern of drinking data from a questio nnaire sent out to experts, from the published literature and from the WHO global databank. Methods are explained and discussed in detail in two other contributions to this volume. Results: More than 8,000 deaths of people ag ed 15-29 in Europe in 1999 were attributable to alcohol. Young males show a higher proportion of alcohol-attributable deaths (12.8%) than females (8.3 %). Both average volume and patterns of drinking contribute to alcohol-rela ted death. Concluslons: Alcohol-related deaths constitute a considerable bu rden in young people in Europe. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.