Although many Arab countries have somewhat strict regulations on the sale and consumption of alcohol, and a few, such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, ban it all together, that doesn’t mean it isn’t widely consumed throughout the region. According to the World Health Organization’s 2014 report on alcohol and the management of substance abuse, the average human aged 15 years or older consumes 6.2 litres of pure alcohol per year.
However, when you take into consideration that less than 40 per cent of that global population actually consumes alcohol, this means the average drinker consumes about 17 litres annually. With these numbers in mind, most Arab countries are significantly below the international average. At the same time, when looking just at drinkers in several countries, the average consumption is significantly higher.
1. Kuwait
Average among total population: 0.1 litres
Average among drinkers: 1.3 litres
2. Libya
Average among total population: 0.1 litres
Average among drinkers: 2.5 litres
3. Mauritania
Average among total population: 0.1 litres
Average among drinkers: 4.8 litres
4. Camoros
Average among total population: 0.2 litres
Average among drinkers: 1.9 litres
5. Saudi Arabia
Average among total population: 0.2 litres
Average among drinkers: 3.9 litres
6. Yemen
Average among total population: 0.3 litres
Average among drinkers: 6.1 litres
7. Egypt
Average among total population: 0.4 litres
Average among drinkers: 6 litres
8. Iraq
Average among total population: 0.5 litres
Average among drinkers: 9.1 litres
9. Somalia
Average among total population: 0.5 litres
Average among drinkers: 9.2 litres
10. Jordan
Average among total population: 0.7 litres
Average among drinkers: 15.2 litres
According to the estimations by the World Health Organization:
· The harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths each year.
· On average every person in the world aged 15 years or older drinks 6.2 litres of pure alcohol per year.
· Less than half the population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol, this means that those who do drink consume on average 17 litres of pure alcohol annually.