Alcohol Consumption And Its Effects | Essay

Running head: ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND ITS EFFECTS
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Alcohol Consumption And Its Effects
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Author Note

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND ITS EFFECTS 2
In recent times, alcohol and smoking together have caused significant health concerns in
society and all around the globe. The percentage of alcoholics has been increasing day by
day, and with it, the alcohol-related deaths are also rising significantly, which makes it a real
national concern. The local and state governments have taken necessary preventive measures
to address the issue. However, the approach taken to fight against alcoholism is different
from each other. Alcohol is like a drug which mostly affects the younger
generation(Crawford-Williams, Roberts & Watts, 2016). The reason for the same is not yet
generalized. It was found that teenagers who reached a particular age are often influenced by
their friends to consume alcohol. For young people, it is a kind of relaxation or a fun activity
for them, soon it becomes a regular habit for them, leading to many serious health problems.
Alcoholism can also result from the misconception that it is suitable for getting temporary
relief from the harsh realities of life. Besides, in some cultures, people often consume alcohol
to celebrate a successful feat. Due to these issues, alcoholism had significantly impacted the
well being of an individual, making it harder to achieve their personal goals and lead a
healthy life.
Discussion
Incidence and Prevalence
Globally, around 3 million deaths result due to excessive alcohol consumption. Overall, 5.2%
of the global burden of disease is associated with alcohol. The consumption of alcohol causes
death and disabilities among people. The age group of 20-40 years is mostly affected by
alcohol consumption and accounts for around 13.7% of the total deaths caused by
alcohol(Delker, Brown & Hasin, 2016).

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND ITS EFFECTS 3
Consumption of alcohol is quite common in India both in the rural and urban areas with a
prevalence varying from 24% to 75% among males and around 25% to 50% in females.
According to the data in 2005, the estimated number of people consuming alcohol in India
was 63 million, with 18% of the population suffering from alcohol-related disorders.
According to a community-based study conducted in 2013, it was found that the prevalence
of alcohol consumption was common among males(Manimunda, Sugunan, Thennarasu,
Pandian, Pesala & Benegal, 2017). Among those males, 13% of them were illiterate, 30%
were hazardous drinkers, 35% had alcohol dependence, and the rest suffered from severe
alcohol-related health problems. According to WHO reports, Indians consumed around 2.5
billion liters of alcohol in 2005, which excelled at 4.5 billion liters in 2010 and again raised to
5.8 billion liters in 2016. It is estimated that it will touch 6.8 billion liters at the end of 2020.
The report stated that the rate of alcohol consumption in India had increased significantly
from 2005 to 2016(Verenkar & Vaz, 2018). The states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Karnataka, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh are among the highest alcohol consumers in India.
According to reports in 2016, more than 3 million people from excessive alcohol
consumption. The report also stated that both men and women who consumed excessive
alcohol were found to suffer from liver cirrhosis and cancer. Out of all the death due to
alcohol consumption, 30% are found to be associated with injuries or car accidents, 22%
resulted from digestive disorders, and the rest deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases.
Cohort most at risk
The effect of alcohol is different for different age groups. The teenagers are more preferable
to consume alcohol. Studies found that younger people are much more likely to drink alcohol
than older people. Binge drinking is the most common cause of destructive patterns of
excessive alcohol use in the United States. It is most common among younger adults aged 18-
35 years. It has serious ill effects on an individual's health, causing chronic diseases such as