Some eight million Italian
consumers of alcohol are "at risk" drinkers and 720,000 of them
are "heavy drinkers", putting away amounts dangerous for their
health - more than 40 grammes a day for women and more than 60
grammes for men, according to a report out Thursday.
The biggest drinkers are between the ages of 16 and 17 and
the over 65s, according to the report from Istat and the Higher
Health Institute (ISS), compiled for Alcohol Prevention Day.
The report was drafted in collaboration with the National
Alcohol Observatory and the World Health Organisation's centre
for research and promotion of health on alcohol and
alcohol-related problems, with the support of the Italian health
ministry.
"The excessive consumption of alcohol must be considered a
major and widespread risk factor for health and is linked to 86%
of serious diseases including cancer," said ISS President Walter
Ricciardi, stressing that bad lifestyle choices are becoming
ever more widespread among the young and the very young.
"We have to work at strategies of control and prevention,
that is out goal, which must be shared by all including parents
who must be vigilant about their kids," he said.
Binge drinking by young Italians, once taboo, has risen
sharply in recent years.
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