This map looks at a darker side of alcohol use in Europe.
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Recently we looked at the favourite alcoholic drink of each European country and also had a detailed look at the alcohol consumption in Europe. This map shows a darker side of alcohol.
Although alcohol use is common and culturally accepted around most of Europe, we must not forget that it is a drug. One that can be both mentally and physically addicting. Excessive alcohol use can damage all organ systems, but it particularly affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system.
The highest death rates due to alcohol use can be found in Eastern Slovenia (19.7), Western Slovenia (12.7), Bremen (19.0) and Hannover (14.2) in Germany and Pomorskie (15.9) in Poland.
We can also see that the rate is fairly high in Northern Germany, Denmark, Poland, Latvia, Eastern Austria, Western Hungary and Scotland. Overall, it seems to be much higher in the Northern half of Europe than the southern half of Europe.
Sadly, there is no data for several Eastern European countries. According to the WHO, Eastern Europe has the highest rate of alcoholism in the world (11%). Therefore, it would have been very interesting to see the alcohol related death rate of the other Eastern European countries.
If you are curious how this compares with drug overdose deaths, have a look at this map.
The data from this map comes from Eurostat and is based on information provided on death certificates.
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