The true picture of alcohol consumption is often shrouded in myths and assumptions.
A statistical presentation and mapping of the level and patterns of global, regional and
country alcohol consumption by adults 15 years and older provides a sound basis for
the analysis of problems related to alcohol. For this purpose, total adult consumption,
unrecorded consumption, consumption in different World Bank income groups, and most
consumed beverages in terms of litres of pure alcohol are examined and presented. The
principal measure is adult per capita alcohol consumption (APC) in litres of pure alcohol
(see Box 3). The country-level data on APC and consumption of different types of alcoholic
beverages are presented in Appendix II.