Live in a cold, dark climate more likely to lead to heavy alcohol consumption

People who live in cold climates with less sun are more likely to drink a lot, according to a new study.

US research has linked average temperature, hours of sunlight, and alcohol consumption.

Data from 193 countries provided evidence that climate contributed to a higher incidence of excessive consumption of alcohol and liver disease.

A Scottish doctor is now calling for restrictions in advertising for alcohol during the winter months.

Lead author Ramon Bataller, associate director of the Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, said: "This is the first study that consistently demonstrates that in the world and in America, in colder and less-cold regions sunny, you drink more and have more alcoholic cirrhosis. "

"Links to depression"

Alcohol is a vasodilator that relaxes blood vessels and increases the flow of warm blood to the skin.

Alcohol consumption is also related to depression, which tends to be more common when sunlight is scarce.

The study, published online in the journal Hepatology, used data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization.

Dr. Peter McCann, a medical advisor at Castle Craig Hospital, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic in the Scottish Borders, contributed to the report.

"We now have new evidence that the weather, and in particular the temperature and amount of sunlight we are exposed to, has a strong influence on the amount of alcohol we consume.

"In addition, this weather-related alcohol consumption is directly related to our chances of developing the most dangerous form of liver disease – cirrhosis – which can lead to liver failure and death."

He added: "Tougher laws on the price of alcohol are surely warranted if we consider the devastating combined effect of low sun exposure and cheaper alcohol." on consumption.

"Advertising laws should be subject to restrictions during the winter months, a serious consideration."

WHO presents new data on alcohol consumption in Europe at a summit in Edinburgh on Monday.

He says that levels remain high and that almost half of the adult male population is at risk of social and health problems in the short and long term due to harmful consumption patterns.

Earlier this year, legislation on minimum alcohol prices came into force in Scotland to combat alcohol problems.