In WHO statistics, alcohol has been divided into four groups – beer, wine, spirits and other beverages. It is the consumption of ethanol that is taken into account, not the total volume of drinks consumed.
Beer is a popular drink on all continents. The Czech Republic, Namibia, Austria, Gabon and Poland drink the most beer. Spain is traditionally considered a “wine” country, but beer is the most popular drink there.
The popularity of wine has been declining in recent years. However, it remains the main alcoholic beverage in most countries with a developed wine culture. The most wine is drunk in Moldova, Portugal, France, Italy and Andorra.
WHO defines spirits as vodka, whisky, rum, brandy, as well as many liqueurs and local drinks in different countries. St. Lucia was the leader in the consumption of spirits. Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Bulgaria were also in the top 5.
The “other alcohol” category is the most diverse. It includes fermented beverages with the exception of beer or grape wine. This is where cider, sake, mead, palm wine, and various traditional drinks fall. For example, South Korea and Japan favor alcohols in this group.
