Alcohol is the cause of one in three deaths from injuries and violence in the European region, and increased consumption during the holiday season and celebrations can increase traffic risks, falls, poisoning and violent behavior.
This is shown by a new World Health Organization (WHO)/Europe fact sheet “Alcohol-related injuries in the WHO European Region: a review of key findings based on 2019 data,” which was published last week.
The WHO warned that according to the latest available data, almost 145.000 injury deaths in the European Region were alcohol-related, with the most common being self-harm, road traffic injuries and falls.
According to WHO data from 2019, Montenegro ranked 12th in terms of alcohol consumption per capita with 12,24 liters (men 19,51 and women 5,3), which is the highest measured consumption to date.
Research shows that alcohol is easily accessible in Montenegro, even to minors. More than 58% of young people under the age of 16 have tried alcohol, and over half have consumed it in the last year.
The failure to take measures to combat the harmful use of alcohol was also criticized by the European Commission, which noted in its 2025 progress report on Montenegro that there had been no new activities in this area.
Every 11th death is alcohol-related
In 2019, according to the latest available WHO data, almost 145.000 injury deaths in the WHO European Region were alcohol-related. The most common causes are self-harm, road traffic injuries and falls.
"Alcohol is a toxic substance that not only causes seven types of cancer and other non-communicable diseases, but also impairs judgment and self-control, slows reactions, reduces coordination, and encourages risky behavior," explained Dr. Karina Ferreira Borges, WHO Regional Advisor on Alcohol, Illicit Drugs and Prison Health in WHO/Europe.
"That's why alcohol is involved in so many preventable injuries and deaths," she said.
Alcohol, the report claims, is one of the leading causes of preventable injuries worldwide and a significant contributor to mortality in the WHO European Region, which has the highest levels of alcohol consumption globally.
Estimates show that alcohol use in the region causes about 800.000 deaths annually, or one in eleven deaths.
“Alcohol is also one of the strongest and most consistent contributors to violence and aggression. In 2019, around 26.500 deaths in the region were due to violent behaviour, and more than 40 per cent of these deaths were alcohol-related. Alcohol also contributed to more than a third of all deaths from self-harm. Evidence shows that harmful alcohol use among men is a risk factor for perpetrating intimate partner violence. We also know that women who experience intimate partner violence are twice as likely to develop alcohol use disorders, which is why it is important that all health workers understand the spectrum of clinical conditions associated with violence and know how to respond in a survivor-centred, gender-sensitive manner,” she said. Melanie Hyde, Technical Officer for Gender, Equality and Human Rights.
This is in line with the WHO/Europe Special Initiative to Combat Violence against Women and Girls, launched earlier this year, with the aim of ensuring that the health sector responds to the physical and mental health needs of women and girls who experience violence.
Young people particularly vulnerable, Eastern Europe leads the way
Despite progress over the last two decades, the WHO European Region still shows deep subregional inequalities in alcohol-related injuries, with age-standardized death rates highest in Eastern Europe, the WHO report shows.
“Subregional differences are also evident in the proportion of alcohol-related injury deaths: in many Eastern European countries, more than 50 percent of all injury deaths are alcohol-related, compared with less than 20 percent in much of Western and Southern Europe. These differences reflect differences in patterns of alcohol consumption, the frequency of episodic drinking, and the strength of alcohol control policies, including regulation, law enforcement, and access to treatment,” the WHO said.
It explains that for adolescents and young adults, alcohol poses a particularly serious threat, as it is one of the leading risk factors for disability and premature death due to injuries among young people in the European Region.
“Although they drink less frequently than older adults, young people are more prone to episodic binge drinking – consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. This pattern dramatically increases the likelihood of unintentional injuries, such as traffic accidents, drownings and falls, as well as violence and self-harm,” he said. Jonathan Pasmor, WHO/Europe Regional Advisor for Road Safety and Injury Prevention.
It is emphasized that in young people, alcohol can affect brain development and decision-making, leading to problems with memory and learning, as well as an increased risk of long-term consequences, including alcohol use disorders and other mental health problems.
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