‘It is linked to preventable deaths and many years of life with disability, so we really need effective, viable and sustainable public health and political measures and programs,’ said Dr. Anselm Hennis, head of PAHO’s Department of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Mental Health.

The research showed that 64.9 percent of the deceased were under 60 years of age, and suffered from liver disease and neuro-psychiatric disorders due to alcohol consumption.

It also indicated that high-income countries have higher per capita alcohol consumption; while low-income nations have the highest mortality rates probably due to the relatively less access by the most disadvantaged people to medical services, limitations in terms of transportation in emergency situations and poor nutrition, among other factors.

The PAHO called on all countries in the region to limit alcohol sale hours, ban alcohol promotion and advertising, and increase alcohol tax rates to curb harmful consumption.

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