New publications
Study shows differences in drinking styles across European countries
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
A new study covering the periods from 2000 to 2019 has found that drinking patterns in Europe are consistent and depend on the type of drink, and are also partly determined by geography. The study was published today in the scientific journal Addiction.
The study identified six patterns of alcohol consumption in Europe in 2019:
- Wine drinking countries: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. Characterized by the highest wine consumption, the lowest beer and spirits consumption, and the lowest overall alcohol consumption.
- Countries with high beer consumption and low alcohol consumption: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Spain. Characterized by high beer consumption, relatively low alcohol consumption and the highest alcohol consumption abroad.
- Countries with high beer consumption and frequent binge drinking: Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Characterized by high overall alcohol consumption, the highest beer consumption and a high prevalence of heavy episodic drinking.
- Countries with high alcohol consumption: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Characterized by the highest alcohol consumption, high beer consumption and the highest total alcohol consumption, but low wine consumption and rare binge drinking.
- Countries with high alcohol consumption and high rates of lifelong abstinence: Ukraine, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Characterized by the lowest prevalence of drinkers and the highest prevalence of lifelong abstainers, but high and regular alcohol consumption.
- Countries with high prevalence of current alcohol consumption and binge drinking: Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg and Malta. Characterized by the highest prevalence of drinkers and binge drinking.
An analysis of nearly 20 years of data showed that these clusters largely remained the same from 2000 to 2019, with two-thirds of countries remaining in the same cluster at all measurement stages.
The study found significant associations between drinking patterns and alcohol-attributable mortality and health harm (measured in terms of "disability-adjusted life years": the number of years lost due to poor health, disability or premature death). Countries with high alcohol consumption and/or high prevalence of binge drinking, such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Cyprus, had the highest average rates of alcohol-attributable mortality and health harm.
Patterns of alcohol consumption in Europe based on per capita alcohol consumption and drinking status indicators. CD = current consumers; HED = heavy episodic drinkers; LA = lifelong abstainers. Source: Addiction (2024). DOI: 10.1111/add.16567
Co-author of the study, Dr Jurgen Rehm, said: "Obvious patterns of alcohol consumption in Europe are deeply rooted in culture and therefore difficult to change. Because patterns of alcohol consumption are strongly associated with disease burden and mortality, we need to find ways to change those patterns that characterise clusters with the highest alcohol-related burden. Alcohol policies for such changes are available and should be considered by all European countries, as overall levels of alcohol consumption in the region are still high."