Alcohol consumption among the youth is nearing an alarming level, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported yesterday, with as many as 75 percent of the youth in the region guzzling booze at an average of two to three times a week.
In Pacific island countries like the Philippines, WHO noted that going on a drinking binge is a common practice.
"Despite the fact that 45 percent to 75 percent of the young people in the Western Pacific region consume alcohol regularly, there is poor public awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol abuse," it said.
To address this, WHO is calling on member countries to implement programs that can reduce youths’ alcohol consumption by regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages.
Another major concern is that teens are starting to drink at an earlier age than before, WHO said.
"The onset of drinking at earlier ages as well as binge or problem drinking among young people are of particular concern," WHO said.
It cited Japan where, the health body said, nearly 10 percent of its youth are "defined as problem drinkers."
The WHO said "conservative estimates" show 76.3 million people worldwide suffer from alcohol-related diseases.
According to the WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004, "5.5 percent of the entire disease burden in the Western Pacific region is attributed (to) the use of alcohol, significantly higher than the global level of four percent."
More than 60 diseases and other health conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver and unintentional injuries are associated with heavy drinking.
Recent studies also suggest a link between alcohol use and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, as "heavy drinking leads to high-risk behavior," WHO said.
Traffic accidents across the region are strongly related to drinking, the organization pointed out, with 20 percent to 50 percent of fatalities in such mishaps related to alcohol use.
"For example, in the Republic of Korea, traffic accidents and casualties associated with alcohol increased by about half between 1994 and 2004," WHO said.