Europeans are “world champions” at drinking and smoking

Levels of alcohol consumption, tobacco use, overweight, and obesity are still “alarmingly high” in Europe, a World Health Organization report has found.

The European Health Report 20151 said that the average European adult consumed 11 litres of pure alcohol a year, nearly two thirds (59%) were overweight or obese, and nearly a third (30%) used tobacco. WHO’s European region had the highest levels of alcohol consumption and tobacco use in the world and ranked only slightly behind the Americas in rates of overweight and obesity.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in Europe ranged from 45% in Tajikistan to 67% in Andorra. The United Kingdom had the sixth highest prevalence of obesity in WHO’s European region, at 62%.

The report is published every three years and covers the 53 member states of WHO’s European region, including Israel in the south and …