Citation

Razvodovsky YE. Alcoholism (Zagreb) 2000; 36(2): 109-120.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Center for study and Control of Alcoholism and Addictions (Croatia))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the structure and the dynamics of alcohol-related mortality in Belarus in the period from 1990 to 1998. With the help of national statistics data an attempt is made to demonstrate the correlation between the level of alcohol consumption per capita and the level of alcohol-related mortality. Besides, in the paper it's shown that the total rate and the character of alcohol-related mortality depends not only on the total level of alcohol consumption but on the pattern of drinking. Changes in consumption pattern, when vodka becomes prevailing alcoholic beverages consumed, lead to increase in the level of alcohol-related mortality. In different period of time when the level of alcohol consumption per capita was approximately equal, the level and structure of alcohol-related mortality varied. This can be explained by difference in alcohol consumption patterns and other factors. The level of alcohol consumption and consequently, the level of alcohol-related mortality can be controlled by political measures. The prevalence of violent mortality in the alcohol-related mortality witnesses that alcohol-related problems touch upon not only heavy drinkers but spread to the overall population as well. Preventive measures must be directed both to total alcohol consumption decreasing and changing orientation of alcohol consumers from strong alcohol beverages to soft ones not only among heavy drinkers but among the overall population as well.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; alcohol; alcohol consumption; Alcohol consumption; alcohol intoxication; alcoholism; article; controlled study; disease association; drinking behavior; drowning; dynamics; female; homicide; human; injury; major clinical study; male; mortality; Mortality structure; population structure; statistical analysis; suicide; traffic accident; violence