Page 915 - 1970S

October 1971 The PLAIN TRUTH
Alcoholism-
AWorldwide Malady
T HE TENTACLES of alcoholism
spread into virtually every nation
on earth, wherever alcoholic bever–
ages are abused. Notice these striking
examples:
MEXICO - Mexico's Alcoholics
Anonymous estimates that about one
out of every five Mexicans is an alco–
holic! That's 9 million alcoholics out
of a total population of about 50
million - one of the highest per–
centages in the world. Alcoholism
has been blamed for causing 30% of
all the deaths in Mexico, and 25% of
all divorces.
FRANCE - "The technique of
drinking," writes french author Ro–
land Barthes, "is a national talent
that serves to identify the Frenchman
- and to prove simultaneously his
power and ability, his control and
his sociability." Recent statistics
show the annual consumption of
pure alcohol for the average Frencb
adult is 29.5 quarts, about 70% of
this being wine. This means the
average consumption of ordinary
wine is from 295-315 quarts annu–
ally! The overall consumption is
TWICE that of the average American,
and four times that of the average
Italian.
Interestingly, with only 1.7% of
the world's popuJatioo, France
absorbs one third thc world produc–
tion of wine! Alcoholism ranks as
the third major cause of death in
Fraoce - daiming 22,130 lives in
1969. About 4 million Frendunen
are alcoholics. Though the govern–
meot has tried to legislate against al–
cohoJism severa! times, it has met no
success. The problem will never be
eradicated so long as drinking re–
mains the "pet vice" of the French,
costing the nation 7 billion francs
annually.
RUSSIA - For years the Soviet
Union called alcoholism "a disease
of capitalism." Now the Kremlin
acknowledges that drunkenness aod
alcoholism are a major problem in
the Soviet Unioo.
Though official statlst•cs are
unavailable, one count put the num–
ber of alcoholics at 1O million in
1965. Alcoholism in Russia is held
as a factor in 65% of all murders,
71% of all bodily harm, 40% of al!
absenteeism, 2'\% of all traffic acci–
dents (despite the fact that there are
few automobiles in Russia, com–
paratively), 90% of all juvcnile
crime, 84% of all thefts and 54% of
all rapes.
) BETTING OFFJCE
IBERS OF
'CLUB ~· B.PJ .
Ambossador Collogo Pholo
A massive campaign is under way
to reduce alcoholism and drunk–
cnness. But even before the Russian
rcvolution, Russians downed vodka
in staggering quantities. After 1917
the leaders attempted prohibition,
but it fai led. Khrushchev raised
prices, to no avail. The present mas–
sive crackdown on drunkards will
probably also fail.
Foreign observers believe Russiaos
drink mostly out of sheer boredom.
Housing shortages, frustrations, lack
of recreational activities, the long
cold winter months, all contribute to
drive the people to drink to forget
their worries and problems. Experts
see no end to alcoholism in Russia
until life becomes much more enjoy–
able and other pleasures replace
drink.
BRITAIN - Estimates of alcohol–
ics in Britain range from 350,000 to
over half a million. Renowned as a
nation of beer drinkers, alcoholism
has reached alarming proportions. It
is very likely the third major health
problem - a far greater problem
than dependeoce on other drugs.
Dependence on it outweighs aU
other drugs by about 50 times. There
is an established trend to younger
and younger alcoholics, with already
more than 25% under 35. Alcohol–
ism costs the British 250 million
pounds a year.
CANADA - Perhaps 300,000 al–
coholics (these are conservative fig–
ures) . Excessive drinking is blamed
for 40% of divorce cases and 50% of
fatal traffic accidents, as well as 13%
of admissions to general hospitals.
AUSTRALIA - Six percent of all
drinkers in this country are alcohol–
ics - a shockingly high figure. Aus–
tralia has the fifth highest proportion
of the world's alcoholics.
SOUTH AFRICA - A growing
army of alcoholics, over 370,000
strong ( five times the number suffer–
ing from cancer), threatens the
health of this nation. The problem
is assuming alarming proportions.
WEST GERMANY - In beer.
drinking alone, Germans drink an
average of about 125 quarts a year
per capita, and slightly more hard
liquor than the U. S. average. Ger–
many's army of alcoholics numbers
around 600,000, one third of them
women.
HOLLAND - Although alcohol–
ism is not a major problem here, .
there is a definite relationship
between alcoholism and crime. From
1963-1966, 25% of all lawbreakers
committed their crimes while under
the influence of alcohol.
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