One Belgian in 20 has drink problem

10 March 2004

BRUSSELS – Half a million Belgians have some sort of problem with alcohol, according to a survey published on Wednesday by a Flemish group that tries to help people with drug and alcohol addiction.

According to the Flemish Association for Alcohol and other Drug problems, which is known by its Dutch acronym VAD, people in the 26-45 age range are most likely to develop a drink problem, because they regard alcohol as an “earned privilege” and so tend to drink more than other age groups.

According to the VAD 26- 34-year-olds drink 9.07 litres of pure alcohol a year, diluted in beers, wines and sprits. This figure shoots up to 10.17 litres for the 35-44 age group.

Serious drink problems tend to manifest themselves between 40 and 45 years old, the VAD added

Perhaps surprisingly people in the younger 18-24 age group, which is often berated for unsociable alcohol-related behaviour, drink an average of only 6.85 litres of pure alcohol a year.

Subject: Belgian news