Ticos Consume 400
Million Litres of
Alcohol A Year
According to figures
released by the
Instituto sobre
Alcoholismo y
Farmacodependencia (IAFA)
- institute on
alcoholism and drug
dependency - some 400
million litres of
alcohol a year are
consumed in Costa Rica.
In addition, some
620.000 people have an
alcohol problem, of
which 250.000 are
alcoholics.
The concern by
authorities is that one
out of every three
traffic accidents in
country involve alcohol,
of which 52% are between
the ages of 15 and 40.
According to the IAFA,
the abuse of alcohol
continues to provoke
tragedies, leaving
families in pain, which
many use the Christmas
and New Year's holiday
season for excess
abuse,"
The IAFA calculates that
the alcohol consumption
is five litres per
person in a year. And
78% of drivers found
under the influence of
alcohol behind the wheel
are on average 24 years
of age or younger.
The IAFA and the
Ministerio de Salud
(Health ministry) are
calling on the
population to avoid the
consumption of alcohol
when driving. The
Policía de Tránsito
(traffic police) are out
in full force during the
month of December with
spot checks in many
parts, including during
the day, when typically
the spot checks were
only being held at
night.
The call is being made
at a time of the year
when alcohol consumption
plays a role in the
annual festivities,
increasing the number of
traffic accidents and
domestic violence.
The World Health
Organization (WHO) says
that the consumption of
alcohol is linked to 40%
of the hospitalizations
and responsible for 3,2%
of the world deaths.
In Costa Rica, alcohol
consumption is the
leading cause of violent
deaths, especially in
the youth population. |
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