ADIC reveals economic and health cost of liquor and tobacco use

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Incurring a staggering amount of annual economic loss of Rs. 241 billion, which is 1.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Sri Lankans spend Rs. 1,210 million on arrack, beer and cigarettes daily, according to a survey conducted by the Alcohol and Drugs Information Centre (ADIC).

The statistics revealed that people between the age of 15 years and above 40 years spend Rs. 510 million on arrack, Rs. 180 million on beer, and Rs. 520 million on cigarettes per day.

According to the ADIC, income that generated from alcohol use in 2022 was Rs. 165.2 billion but the health and economic cost for that year for the alcohol use was Rs. 237 billion.

This includes direct healthcare costs and indirect costs such as absenteeism, presenteeism, and decreased labour force productivity.

When considering the districts included in the survey, the highest percentage of alcohol users was reported from Colombo (35.8%) while the second highest percentage was observed in Kandy (33.5%). The lowest number of alcohol users was reported in Jaffna (21.4%), the survey revealed.

The survey has also found that beer is the most popular type of alcohol product, which accounted for 53.8%, and second popular beverage is arrack that was 42%.

According to the survey, 35.6% people initiated alcohol use during big matches, parties, and other large gatherings and 32.8% due to peer influences for onset alcohol use.

While consumption of these beverages is an underlying cause and contributing factor to a number of diseases and injuries, leading to three million deaths globally each year, Sri Lanka has a significant burden of alcohol-related harm, with alcohol consumption responsible for 4,201 deaths per 100,000 people each year from non-communicable diseases and injuries, including liver cirrhosis, which accounts for 2,880 deaths per 100,000, road traffic accidents that reported 675 cases per 100,000 and cancers account for 646 cases per 100,000.

According to ADIC, 40 to 50 people die every day and 15,000-20,000 deaths are reported annually in Sri Lanka due to alcohol consumption. The ADIC report, which highlighted an urgent need for a multi-sectoral approach to reduce the health and social burden of alcohol, revealed that due to alcohol use the labour force has decreased by 57%.

ADIC’s public opinion poll survey on alcohol consumption conducted in five provinces – Western, Southern, Central, Uva, and Northern – has found that majority of people interviewed wanted stronger policies and 64% believe existing laws do not provide sufficient protection against alcohol-related harms, 39% reported exposure to alcohol advertising despite a ban on direct alcohol advertising, 93% think Government involvement is crucial in tackling alcohol-related challenges and 60% see the alcohol industry as an obstacle to passing adequate alcohol laws.

Among the participants 73% favour measures that raise alcohol prices, 75% support alcohol taxation and 70% would increase their support for taxing alcohol if the revenue were used for public programs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.

An overwhelming 93% of surveyed adults believe that government involvement is crucial in tackling alcohol-related challenges.

The survey has also found that alcohol consumption impacts household finances in Sri Lanka primarily through the misuse of household income.