EC vows to curb binge-drinking
Updated on 14 March 2007
The European Commission has vowed to step up EU-wide measures to counter the drinking culture after a new survey showed one in five young people aged 15-24 were routine "binge" drinkers.
The Irish are the worst binge drinkers, with 34% of the population saying they "usually" drink five or more alcoholic drinks in one session - the widely-used benchmark of binge drinking.
More than a quarter of Finns - 27% - also consider themselves binge drinkers, followed by 24% of Britons and 23% of Danes.
The Eurobarometer survey confirms that the habit is a particular problem among the young, with 19% of the 15-24 age group saying they "usually" binge when out drinking.
And it shows that even a 25% price hike in alcohol would not deter the majority from drinking at such a rate.
Across Europe one in ten of those surveyed said they usually drank five or more drinks in a session.
Bingeing is a particular problem among young Europeans, with 19% of the 15-24 age group saying they "usually" consume at least five drinks in one drinking session.
Statistics show that alcohol abuse kills 195,000 people a year in the EU, and is responsible for one in four deaths among young men aged 15-29.
The Commission launched plans last October to back national schemes to reduce alcohol-related harm and officials said Brussels hopes to stage a first meeting in June with interest groups in an "Alcohol and Health Forum".
EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou commented: "It is evident from this survey that EU citizens support measures crafted to protect specific groups in society, such as pregnant women, drivers and young people, from the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and misuse. I am deeply concerned about the data showing that one in five young Europeans regularly binge drink".
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