In Austria, about five percent of adults depend on alcohol. “That’s 370,000 people affected,” emphasizes the “Austrian Alcohol Dialogue Week” initiative. Another 10 percent drink alcohol to an extent that significantly increases their risk of developing the disease. This means that 15 percent or about a million people have problem drinking habits, the initiative explains.
Men are almost twice as likely as women to have problem drinking, but consumption among women increased during the corona pandemic, a domestic study shows. In terms of age, the group of 50 to 54-year-olds has the highest share of problem drinkers.
Amount of alcohol is significantly less
The later people start drinking and the faster they learn to handle alcohol responsibly, the less danger they run, according to the initiators of the dialogue week. Since the 1970s, the average amount of alcohol consumed in Austria has dropped significantly.
The current “Week of the Alcohol Dialogue” provides information about risks
The dialogue week also aims to provide information about responsible alcohol consumption. The international definition of low-risk consumption states that healthy women should not consume more than 16 grams of alcohol per day and healthy men should not consume more than 24 grams. This corresponds to 0.4 liters of beer or 0.2 liters of wine for women and 0.6 liters of beer or 0.3 liters of wine for men. “Low risk” should not be confused with “healthy” or “risk free”. “Low risk” just means you’re less likely to get an alcohol-related illness.
Two alcohol-free days per week must be observed
In addition, at least two alcohol-free days per week should be observed and alcohol should not be used as a problem solver. According to the WHO, an addiction is not determined by the amount you drink, but by the criteria of compulsion, loss of control, dose increase, continuing to drink despite harmful effects, limitation of other interests and physical dependence.
12 liters of pure alcohol per person per year
“Especially during the pandemic and its associated psychological stress, consumption characteristics have intensified,” Ewald Lochner, coordinator for psychiatry, addiction and drug issues for the city of Vienna, said in a statement. “Austria is still a high-consumption country”, twelve liters of pure alcohol per person per year is one of the highest values in all OECD countries.
“Alcohol is always harmful, no matter how much it is consumed. It has been proven that more than 60 diseases are related to alcohol,” warned Lisa Brunner, head of the Institute for Addiction Prevention at the Addiction and Drug Coordination Vienna.
The Dialogue Week website offers a self-check to assess your own drinking behavior. Anyone who wants to limit their alcohol consumption can also get support: through the anonymous online program alkcoach.at or in a counseling center.
Source: Krone
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