Alcohol use and abuse – where do you fit in?

[19 April 2007 - 14h27]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has produced risk classifications for different types of alcohol consumption. Given that in France each year alcohol is responsible for over 45,000 deaths it is worth knowing where you stand personally in terms of risk!

At the bottom of the risk scale of course there is “non-use”. But the WHO makes a distinction between a primary abstinent – someone who has never drunk alcohol – and a secondary abstinent which is defined as someone who formerly drank alcohol but no longer does. Almost one in ten French people currently fit into this category.

Next there is low risk use, which is associated with a daily consumption of three standard units or fewer for men and two units or fewer for women, with at least one day of abstinence each week. And this alcohol-free day is very important. It helps to prevent people slipping into behavioural rituals and habits. This is the level of frequency recommended by the WHO and represents the drinking habits of between 64% and 71% of French people. Which, in fact, is not too bad...

One notch below is at-risk use which describes around 16% of the population. This is characterised by not observing an alcohol-free day and/or consumption in excess of the WHO recommended limit. But for some people, even if the amount consumed remains at a reasonable level, it can still be dangerous. This is true of pregnant women, patients receiving medical treatment and those suffering from diseases that make them particularly vulnerable. These include people with liver problems, diabetics, epileptics and people with high blood pressure. Not forgetting those whose work places them at risk or who, quite simply, drive vehicles or operate dangerous machinery.

Harmful use (6% to 7% of French people) concerns any alcohol-related disease, whether it be social, psychological or somatic, for example, gastritis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, depression, etc. Providing patients have not reached the stage of dependency they can be responsive to simple advice and can change their behaviour. Dependency sets in when a person has lost their freedom to abstain. At this stage it becomes an illness that requires treatment. And 2.4 million French people find themselves in this position.

Source : WHO, Le Bulletin de l’Ordre des Médecins, - No. 3 – March 2007

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