Trends in alcohol-related deaths in the EU countries in 1980-2003

AIMS: To explore temporal trends since 1980 in alcohol-related death for people resident in the European Union (EU) and to examine differences between EU members admitted prior to 2004 and new EU members admitted since 2004. METHODS: The data were extracted from the World Health Organization's European mortality database and the European Health for All database. RESULTS: New EU members had higher rates of alcohol-related deaths (135.0 ± 18.48 vs 88.9 ± 18.93; t = -8.55 (d.f. = 46), p < .001) and higher death rates from alcohol abuse (whole population: 3.4 ± 1.24 vs 2.6 ± 0.12; t = -2.98 (d.f. = 23.45), p < .01; male population: 6.1 ± 2.17 vs 4.4 ± 0.19; t = -3.87 (d.f. = 23.35), p < .001) than early EU countries. However, a mortality gradient between groups of countries was visible only for female alcohol-related deaths when controlling for mortality rates from all causes. Multivariate regression analyses also indicated that alcohol-related deaths and alcohol consumption were associated negatively with the gross national product (GNP) of EU countries and positively with levels of urbanization. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-related deaths represent more than 10% of all EU mortality and confirm the importance of national prevention strategies for alcohol problems.