“Once a person becomes an alcoholic, it`s a path of no return. Your body goes from preferring alcohol to craving alcohol. When they stop drinking, their hands tremble and they start hallucinating. Eight to 10 percent of alcoholics die within five years of being diagnosed with alcohol dependence,” Chen said. As the WHO says, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is a big part of social gatherings and celebrations in many parts of the world – but moderation remains key. Among 15-year-old boys, more than 1 in 5 reported drinking weekly in 24 European countries and regions, with the highest prevalence observed in Malta, Denmark, England and Wales. But in 2014, only nine countries and regions had a prevalence of more than 20%, with the highest prevalence in Croatia, Malta and Italy, according to the report. So we have a culture of alcohol consumption that is very accepted, but slowly changing. I think changes in attitude are partly responsible for why we see the declines,” she said. The legal drinking age is 18 in Abu Dhabi (although a Ministry of Tourism regulation allows hotels to serve alcohol only to people over 21) and 21 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates (except Sharjah, where alcohol consumption is prohibited). [113] In Libya, Somalia, and Sudan, it is illegal to consume alcoholic beverages. In Libya, this ban has led to black markets for the sale of alcohol.
Somalia has also introduced very strict laws on alcohol production. This Islamic country prohibits all alcohol-related activities, including the production, trafficking and consumption of alcohol. However, non-Muslims and tourists are allowed to consume alcohol in the privacy of their own homes. Sudan has banned the production, sale, possession and consumption of alcohol since 1983. Section 78 of the Children`s Act – No person shall sell, lend, give, supply, provide or offer liquor to children under 16 years of age unless there is a written order signed by the parent or guardian of the child known to that person. The police have a duty to confiscate any alcoholic beverage in the possession of a child under the age of 16 without the written consent of parents or guardians. [38] ** In Abu Dhabi, the legal drinking age is 18. In all other regions, except Sharjah, the age limit is 21 years. The sale, supply and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Sharjah.
Countries where no youth aged 15 to 19 reported heavy episodic alcohol consumption in the past 30 days were Mauritania, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The most common drinking age in the world may be a bit surprising as it is “none”. Almost half or 83 of the 178 countries (47%) on our list do not have a minimum drinking age. However, many of these countries have a minimum age of purchase between 14 and 20 years. In these countries, minors of all ages can drink in the comfort of their homes, but in public they are limited. Many of these countries have age indications for ABV or alcohol by volume, as well as the type of alcohol consumed. For example, in Belgium, beers, wines and cider can be purchased at the age of 16, but spirits can only be purchased by people over the age of 18. Some countries, such as Angola in Africa, do not have a national law prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors.
Excessive or episodic excessive alcohol consumption can be measured as the consumption of at least 60 grams or more of pure alcohol at least once in the past 30 days. According to the WHO, about 16% of drinkers aged 15 and older worldwide drink heavily episodic. In recent years, however, more attention has been paid to the amount of alcohol consumed by young people, not necessarily the age at which alcohol consumption begins. Adolescents physically and psychologically develop young adults, and excessive alcohol consumption during this period of development can have negative consequences beyond those of adult adults. In addition to the physical consequences, young people may not be able to cope with the emotional and psychological effects of alcohol abuse. Research from Columbia University`s National Center on Substance Abuse and Addiction shows that teens who drink heavily by age 15 or younger are four times more likely to become alcoholics than those who abstain. It is therefore crucial that young people/young people receive appropriate advice on alcohol and the effects of alcohol abuse in the family, at school and in society in general. The legal drinking age is the minimum age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages.
The minimum age at which alcohol can be legally consumed may differ from the age at which it can be purchased in some countries. These laws vary from country to country and many laws provide for exceptions or special circumstances. Most laws only apply to alcohol consumption in public places, with alcohol consumption in the home generally unregulated (an exception is the UK, which has a legal age of five for supervised consumption in private places).