Some people all over the world enjoy an alcoholic drink, such as wine or beer, during dinner. Some people raise a glass of alcohol to celebrate a wedding or a birthday. And having drinks after work with friends and co-workers is called "happy hour". All these situations are considered "social drinking" because they happen at social events.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol abuse kills 3.3 million people each year. And in a new report on alcohol use around the world, the WHO says alcohol can create dependency, or addiction, in some people. The report also warns that alcohol use can increase the risk of developing more than 200 diseases, including some kinds of cancers. And, the WHO says alcohol abuse can put people at greater risk of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and HIV.
WHO Mental Health and Substance Abuse Director Shekhar Saxene says the organization is concerned about drinking among young people between the ages 15 and 19. The report concludes that worldwide 16 percent of drinkers over the age of 15 engage in binge-drinking, which is much more harmful than other kinds of drinking and causes the most harm in terms of accidents, self-harm and harm to others.
High income countries have the highest prevalence (流行) of binge-drinking. The report finds that the highest rates of alcohol-linked deaths are in Europe. The report also finds Europe is the area with the highest alcohol use. Central and Eastern Europe are especially high.
These include increasing taxes on alcohol sales, raising the drinking age limit, and controlling the marketing of alcohol beverages.
A. So, how can we protect teenagers from alcohol abuse?
B. But when does "social drinking" become problem drinking?
C. WHO suggests ways countries can protect people from alcohol abuse.
D. This is followed by the West Pacific and then the Americans.
E. High income countries have the highest alcohol consumption.
F. That is six percent of all deaths around the world.
G. And it is more concerned about "binge-drinking"—an extended period of heavy drinking.
