Liquor and Health

Alcoholic drinks produced by distillation are known as liquor, spirits, distilled beverages, spirituous liquor, or hard liquor and are made from grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar that have undergone alcoholic fermentation. Liquors are considered 'harder' than other alcoholic drinks due to their higher alcohol by volume (ABV). Examples of liquors include vodka, rum, gin, and tequila. Liquors are often aged in barrels or infused with flavorings to form a flavored liquor such as absinthe. Rapid consumption of a large amount of liquor can cause severe alcohol intoxication or alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Consistent consumption of liquor over time correlates with higher mortality and other harmful health effects. The term 'spirit' refers to liquor that should not contain added sugar and typically has 35–40% ABV. Liquor bottled with added sugar and added flavorings are known as liqueurs. Liquor generally has an alcohol concentration higher than 30% when bottled, and before being diluted for bottling it typically has a concentration over 50%. Distilling alcohol for personal use is legal in some countries, but in the US, it is illegal to distill beverage alcohol without a license. The flammability of liquor is applied in cooking techniques such as flambé. Different concentrations of alcohol in the human body have different effects on a person. Consumption of alcohol in any quantity can cause cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and reduce life expectancy. Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol use disorder," is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in problems.Alcohol and Life Expectancy in Europe

• Alcohol is the most important single factor behind the variation in mortality rates and life expectancy for men in Europe.
• In heavily Islamic regions of the Caucasus, where alcohol consumption is forbidden, the life expectancy gap between women and men is five years.
• In nearby Christian areas, the life expectancy gap between women and men is ten years.
• In the Czech Republic, where beer predominates, the chance of a man dying between the ages of 15 and 60 is less than half that of nearby Ukraine.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that alcohol consumption in Europe is higher than in any other region of the world.
• In 2016, an estimated 3 million deaths were attributed to alcohol consumption worldwide, representing 5.3% of all deaths.
• In Europe, the proportion of deaths attributable to alcohol was higher, at approximately 7.8%.
• Alcohol consumption is a leading cause of premature death and disability in Europe, particularly among men.
• Alcohol-related harm is not limited to the individual drinker but also affects families, communities, and society as a whole.
• Alcohol is associated with over 200 diseases and injuries, including liver cirrhosis, cancer, and injuries from road traffic accidents, violence, and falls.
• The WHO recommends that individuals should not consume more than 20g of alcohol per day and that governments should implement policies to reduce alcohol consumption.
• Effective policies include increasing the price of alcohol, restricting access to alcohol, and implementing public health campaigns to raise awareness of the harms associated with alcohol consumption.