Alcohol consumption among young people raises concern among health professionals

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Global Burden of Alcohol-Related Diseases Among Youth

Alcohol consumption among adolescents has been a persistent public health concern worldwide. Recently, a comprehensive study published in BMJ Open offered important insights into the global burden of alcohol-related diseases among youth aged 10 to 24. This study, combined with other recent research, provides a detailed picture of how alcohol consumption affects adolescent and young adult health globally.

Alcohol consumption among adolescents is one of the leading global public health concerns. A recent study published in the prestigious journal BMJ Open revealed alarming data on how alcohol affects youth health worldwide, analyzing information from 204 countries between 1990 and 2019 (1).

Key Findings from the Study

A 2019 analysis found that alcohol was responsible for 59,855 deaths among youth aged 10 to 24, while other drugs caused 16,391 deaths. Alcohol accounted for 5.9 million years of life lost due to premature death or lived with disability, compared to 4.1 million related to other drugs.

Gender Disparities

The study revealed a troubling disparity: young men are significantly more affected by alcohol-related issues than young women. While alcohol-related problems have declined for both sexes since 1990, drug-related issues among young men are on the rise.

Regional Overview: A Divided World

• Eastern Europe: Leads in alcohol-related problems
• North America: Highest rates of drug-related issues
• High-income countries: Paradoxically show higher burdens of substance-related disease

This relationship between economic development and alcohol problems suggests that greater access and purchasing power may inadvertently increase risk.

Behavioral Profiles Among European Adolescents

Complementing the global data, an analysis of 15-year-olds in five European countries (England, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Finland) identified four behavioral profiles (2):

1. Generally unhealthy (multiple risk behaviors)
2. Generally healthy (low risk overall)
3. Moderately healthy
4. Abstainers with other risks (avoid substances but face other challenges)

The Good News are: there has been a significant reduction in the proportion of youth in the “generally unhealthy” group in all countries—especially in England, where it dropped by 22.8 percentage points.

Evidence of Declining Alcohol Use

A systematic review (rated low to moderate in methodological quality by JBI criteria) analyzed trends in alcohol-related harm in high-income countries where adolescent alcohol use has declined. The findings:

• 62% of records from Anglophone countries reported declines in alcohol-related harm
• 36% in North America showed declines
• 31% in continental Europe indicated decreases

Gender Differences in Harm Trends

• Men: Consistently showed decreases or stabilization in alcohol-related harm
• Women: Some populations—especially in university settings—showed increased alcohol-related harm

Major Health Consequences of Alcohol Use in Adolescents

Alcohol use among teens is linked to:

• Alcohol use disorders
• Self-harm and interpersonal violence
• Traffic injuries
• Tuberculosis (particularly in low-income regions)
• Brain development issues

Signs of Progress

Despite the concerning numbers, there are reasons for optimism:

• Global decline in adolescent alcohol use since 1990
• Reduction in alcohol-related deaths in various regions
• Greater awareness of alcohol risks among youth

Improvements in adolescent health indicators are largely due to simultaneous declines in alcohol, tobacco, cannabis use, and sexual activity. However, these positive trends are not always linked to broader improvements in other health domains.

Ongoing Challenges

Vulnerable Populations

The systematic review found that although harm has decreased in most countries, some female and student populations have experienced increased alcohol-related harm—highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Regional Differences

No one-size-fits-all solution exists. Evidence is strongest in Anglophone countries, followed by North America. In continental Europe, findings are more mixed and contradictory.

What Needs to Be Done: Evidence-Based Recommendations

• Targeted prevention programs for vulnerable groups, especially young women and university students
• Region-specific policies considering cultural and socioeconomic contexts
• Ongoing monitoring of consumption patterns and harm indicators
• Integrated approaches addressing multiple risk behaviors

Conclusion

The BMJ Open study paints a complex picture: while global adolescent alcohol use is declining, it remains one of the leading causes of death and disability among young people. The situation is particularly severe for young men and varies greatly by region.

Evidence shows that alcohol-related harm is declining in many high-income countries, especially Anglophone nations. However, rising trends among certain female and student populations underscore the need for continued vigilance.

Analyses of European countries demonstrate that change is possible through well-designed policies, with significant reductions in risk behaviors among teens. Moving forward requires tailored approaches that account for gender, age, and socioeconomic differences.

References:

1. Li, J., Li, X., Shen, Y., Yang, X., & Liu, T. (2025). Global burden attributed to alcohol and drug use among adolescents and young adults, 1990–2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. BMJ Open, 15, e093412. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093412.
2. Stevely, A. K., Gray, L. A., Fairbrother, H., Fenton, L., Henney, M., Kersbergen, I., & Holmes, J. (2024). A latent class analysis of international change and continuity in adolescent health and wellbeing: A repeat cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE, 19(6), e0305124. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305124
3. Miziara, I. D., & Miziara, C. S. M. G. (2023). Suicide victims and alcohol-related consumption in Brazil: An observational study and a narrative review of the literature. Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00766-