The WHO regional advisor on alcohol, Karina Ferreira-Borges, points out that alcohol is not only a risk factor for many non-communicable diseases, including seven types of cancer, but also significantly impairs behavior control, coordination, and reaction time. This increases the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, making alcohol a frequent cause of preventable injuries and deaths.
Alcohol also remains one of the main contributing factors to aggression and violence, harming not only those who consume it but also those around them. Women and children are particularly vulnerable.
Despite this, official data reflects only a small part of the scale of the problem, as many incidents go unnoticed due to stigma and fear of seeking help.
WHO expresses particular concern about the impact of alcohol on adolescents and youth, highlighting its leading role in increasing cases of disability and premature death from injuries in this age group.
In this regard, WHO calls on countries in the region to take active measures. Among the most effective measures are increasing prices and taxes on alcohol, restricting the time and places of its sale, strict control over the advertising of alcoholic beverages, and strengthening measures against drunk driving. It is also important to implement early identification methods for harmful alcohol use in healthcare settings.
It has previously been reported that alcohol can lead to dementia. In Kyrgyzstan, about 2,500 alcohol-related deaths are recorded annually. A former health minister has suggested raising excise taxes and restricting the hours of alcohol sales.
