Rick5150
10-31-2005, 03:19 PM
Oct 31 12:37 PM US/Eastern
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The number of alcohol-related deaths leapt a record 20 percent in Finland last year, comprising one-third of all deaths among men aged 45 to 49, the national statistics agency said.
In 2004, 1,860 deaths in Finland resulted from illnesses or injuries related to alcohol abuse. Two-thirds of the 1,477 men who died were between 45 and 49 years old.
Cardiovascular disease, which can be caused by alcohol abuse, is the main cause of death in the Nordic country, followed by cancer and respiratory diseases.
A gradual increase of alcohol import quotas within the European Union along with dropping taxes on alcoholic drinks in Finland partially explain the tendency, according to experts.
Studies have also revealed a link between cycles of economic growth and increased consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The alcohol-related death rate has consistently risen over the past 20 years despite information campaigns and a clear trend among Finns to replace their hard liquor with beer and wine.
In 1980, Finns on average drank 6.3 liters of pure alcohol annually. That number had jumped to 7.7 liters by 2003, according the statistics agency.
Alcohol is involved in two-thirds of all deadly acts of violence in Finland, where life expectancy in 2003 was 75 years for men and 82 years for women.
What are you guys doing over there? ;)
Email this story
The number of alcohol-related deaths leapt a record 20 percent in Finland last year, comprising one-third of all deaths among men aged 45 to 49, the national statistics agency said.
In 2004, 1,860 deaths in Finland resulted from illnesses or injuries related to alcohol abuse. Two-thirds of the 1,477 men who died were between 45 and 49 years old.
Cardiovascular disease, which can be caused by alcohol abuse, is the main cause of death in the Nordic country, followed by cancer and respiratory diseases.
A gradual increase of alcohol import quotas within the European Union along with dropping taxes on alcoholic drinks in Finland partially explain the tendency, according to experts.
Studies have also revealed a link between cycles of economic growth and increased consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The alcohol-related death rate has consistently risen over the past 20 years despite information campaigns and a clear trend among Finns to replace their hard liquor with beer and wine.
In 1980, Finns on average drank 6.3 liters of pure alcohol annually. That number had jumped to 7.7 liters by 2003, according the statistics agency.
Alcohol is involved in two-thirds of all deadly acts of violence in Finland, where life expectancy in 2003 was 75 years for men and 82 years for women.
What are you guys doing over there? ;)