WHO: Alcohol responsible for one in 20 deaths worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that one in twenty deaths in the world was caused by alcohol.

In a report released Friday by the organization, more than three million people reportedly died of alcohol-related incidents in 2016.

More than 75% of deaths involved men.

According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, "Far too many people, their families and their communities suffer the consequences of alcohol abuse through violence, injury, mental health problems and cancer. and stroke.

"It is time to intensify actions to prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies".

Noting how countries can help curb this dangerous trend, Dr Vladimir Poznyak, coordinator of the WHO Addiction Management Unit, said: "All countries can do much more to reduce the health and social costs of drug use. the alcohol.

"Proven and profitable stocks include increased taxes on alcoholic beverages, bans or restrictions on advertising for alcohol and limiting the physical availability of alcohol."