Ukraine ranks 5th in the world in terms of the amount of alcohol consumed per capita
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
This is stated in the Global Report on the State of Alcohol and Health, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the press service of the public organization School of the Heart.
According to WHO, the volume of alcohol, which an average Ukrainian drinks per year, is 15.6 liters. More than in Ukraine, they drink only in Russia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Moldova (this country topped the list with an indicator of 18.22 liters of alcoholic beverages per person per year).
As is known, the systematic abuse of alcohol leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Alcohol enters the blood after only a few minutes after its administration and circulates through the circulatory system for at least five hours.
At this time, the pulse increases from 70-80 to 100 or more beats per minute, and the rate of contraction of the myocardium-the heart muscle-decreases, and the cardiovascular system ceases to function normally. Alcohol is a strong cardiac depressant, and the high death rate of Ukrainians from heart disease is largely due to their excessive addiction to drinking.
At the same time, the list of WHO records only the quantitative indicator of alcohol consumption, and there is also a quality one. So, if Moldovans and Hungarians are used to drinking dry wine, which is useful in small doses for the body, if the Czechs prefer beer to other beverages, then in Ukraine (as well as in neighboring Russia) strong drinks, primarily vodka, are in great demand.
"And the blow she strikes on the cardiovascular system of the body, which is more destructive and" wine "and" beer. "So the real situation with alcohol in Ukraine is much worse than presented in the report, and it's very sad," states the cardiologist, founder of the public organization School of the Heart Alexei Bashkirtsev.