Rising alcohol-linked deaths worrisome - SAAPA

ALCOHOL consumption causes over 3 million deaths per year, Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) has said.

SAAPA) says according to the current statistics reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) alcohol consumption causes 3.3 million deaths annually.

SAAPA region president Philip Chimponda said alcohol is the fifth leading cause of death and disability among people who are between 15 and 24 years worldwide.

Mr Chimponda said there is rising consumption of alcohol and industry in the growing economies such as Africa.

About 60 percent of the population in Africa consists of the young people and many alcohol producing companies on the continent targets them for the consumption of their products, a move which is worrying.

He said the rights of children are not protected as well as other human rights related to alcohol problems.

Mr Chimponda said the potential risks of alcohol to a human being is associated to psychiatric and mental health problems. The SAAPA region president said the World Health Organisation has alternative recommendations verses alcohol industry strategies, such as increasing the price of alcohol, or restricting marketing and advertising by the alcohol industry.

“In 2010 WHO had ranked the Zambian women on top in terms of drinking alcoholic related beverages as compared to the male folk and this is because most of the women are financially independent due to the increased economical activities for the women in the country," Mr Chimponda said.

In order to reduce alcohol related harms and risks, Mr Chimponda said there was need for best practice national alcohol policies to be put in place in Zambia and other African countries.