Decline in alcohol per capita consumption in Grenada

by Curlan Campbell, NOW Grenada

• Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018 indicates decrease in alcohol per capita consumption
• Grenada’s daily intake of pure alcohol higher than world’s average daily intake
• Increase in Heavy Episodic Drinking

Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018, with reference to Grenada, indicates a decrease in alcohol per capita consumption (APC) (in litres of pure alcohol) from 12.5 litres to 9.3 litres, a difference of 3.2 litres. On average, Grenada’s daily intake of 40.4 grams of pure alcohol is higher than the world’s average daily intake of 33 grams of pure alcohol.

The Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018, which was published on 21 September 2018, is a publication of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It presents information on alcohol consumption as obtained in the Global Survey on Alcohol 2016, which was provided by 173 WHO member states, including Grenada, and other sources.

The following is a brief analysis of the Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018, with reference to Grenada by Drug Control Officer within the Drug Control Secretariat, Dave Alexander.

Alcohol Consumption: Levels and PatternsAlcohol per capita consumption (APC) (in litres of pure alcohol) was 9.3 litres. In the 2014 Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, APC in Grenada was 12.5 litres. This represents a decrease in APC by 3.2 liters.

Average daily intake of alcohol in Grenada is 40.4 grams of pure alcohol. The Average intake worldwide is average daily intake is 33 grams of pure alcohol. Grenada’s average is higher than the world’s average intake.

Recorded alcohol consumption per capita was 8.8 litres. In the 2014 Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, it was 11.9. This represents a decrease of 3.1 litres in the consumption of recorded alcohol.

1. Unrecorded alcohol per capita was 1.4 %, up from 0.7 % in the 2014 report. This represents an increase in the consumption of unrecorded alcohol.
2. According to the 2018 report, Grenada consumed the following type of alcoholic beverages: 

• Spirits: 48%
• Beer: 41%
• Wine: 7%
• Other: 4%

The Global status report on alcohol and health 2014, reported that spirits and beers accounted for 66 % and 30 % respectively, of the types of alcoholic beverages consumed. There was, therefore, a decrease in the number of spirits, but an increase in the number of beers consumed.

Former drinkers was 23.8% (males: 21.3%, females 26.2%) In the 2014 Global status report, former drinkers was 20.9% (males: 21.2%, females: 20.5%). This represents an increase of 2.9 % in the number of former drinkers.

Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) among drinkers only was 25.2% (males: 40.6 %, females: 9.9%). This represents an increase in the HED in Grenada, compared to the 2014 report.

Lifetime abstainers in Grenada was 26.6% (males: 15.1%, females: 38.0%

Abstainers (15+), past 12 months in Grenada was 50.4% (males: 36.4%, females: 64.3%)

Health Consequences: Mortality and Morbidity

Prevalence of alcohol dependence in the 2018 report was 2.8% (males: 3.9%, females: 1.8%). Prevalence of alcohol dependence in the 2018 report remained unchanged when compared to the 2014 report.

In the WHO region of the Americas, the prevalence of alcohol dependence is 4.1%. Grenada’s prevalence is 2.8%. Grenada is therefore below the regional average.

iii. Alcohol-attributable death (AAD) in Grenada, according to the 2018 report were: liver cirrhosis: 6 persons; road traffic injuries: 3 persons; cancer: 9 persons.

Policies and Interventions

Grenada has the following policies and interventions regarding alcohol:

• National government support for community action
• The national monitoring system(s)
• Excise tax on beer/wine/spirits

Grenada does not have the following policies and interventions regarding alcohol:

• Legally binding regulations on alcohol advertising/product placement
• Legally binding regulations on alcohol sponsorship/sales promotion
• Written national policy (adopted/revised)/national action plan

Alexander indicated that further analysis of the Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health would be made available at a later date.