In 2024, official alcohol consumption reached its lowest level in a decade, but the increasing number of alcohol-related deaths is a cause for concern, writes LRT.
The Lithuanian Department of Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol reported that the consumption of officially sold alcohol per person decreased last year, continuing a downward trend. It should be noted that the data does not include home-made and imported alcohol.
Despite the decrease in consumption, the number of deaths related to alcohol consumption has increased compared to 2023, including deaths from liver disease and cardiomyopathy.
For the first time in Lithuania, adolescent alcohol consumption has been analyzed by looking at each region separately. The highest number of 15-16-year-old teenagers who have tried alcohol at least once was in Šiauliai district – 88% of those surveyed. The lowest rate of adolescent alcohol consumption was in Pasvalys district, 51%.
“We hope this municipal-level data will help local governments identify the need for targeted interventions
to reduce alcohol use among teenagers,” said Gražina Belian, a representative of the Department of Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol.
According to the Lithuanian Statistical Office, beer remains the leader in terms of volume consumption, with a total of 192 million liters of beer sold, which is almost 73% of all officially sold alcohol. Wine accounted for 16%, while spirits such as vodka, whiskey and brandy accounted for only 11%.
Alcohol-related crimes have decreased by 11% compared to 2023, but there is also bad news – the number of drunk drivers has increased. In 2024, drunk drivers caused 234 road accidents – almost 5% more than the year before.
Read the full article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2598742/alcohol-consumption-trends-in-lithuania-less-drinking-but-more-drunk-driving
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