Who drinks the most in Europe? The Baltic countries and the Czech Republic are at the top, with Poland above the average

Tuesday, Apr 15, 2025

Gazeta Wyborcza

Czech alcohol culture is prominent; high consumption and youth drinking pose significant public health risks across Europe.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The OECD report indicates that Lithuanians and Latvians consume the most alcohol per capita in the European Union, followed by Czechs. While Baltic nations favor high-proof spirits, Czech culture is heavily centered around beer, with citizens consuming significantly more beer than Poland. Alcohol consumption is deeply ingrained in Czech culture, which has even been listed as intangible national heritage; about 47% of total ethanol intake comes from beer. Despite declining trends, alcohol use among youth remains high, with significant percentages of children and teenagers having experienced drinking. Adult consumption rates are also high, with a notable portion of the population drinking daily or frequently. Risk factors include a tolerant societal attitude towards regular alcohol consumption and relative acceptance of alcohol advertising. Alcohol-related deaths in the Czech Republic reach 6-7 thousand annually. In Central and Eastern European countries, excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts life expectancy; Lithuanians have the lowest average lifespan due to risky drinking. Lithuania’s slow consumption decrease is not aided by current regulations. Concerns are also highlighted regarding underage drinking in Hungary, which ranks among the most at risk for adolescent alcoholism.

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