Researchers received a complete picture of alcohol consumption by studying the composition of wastewater in five cities of Cyprus. This was the first national epidemiological study, which took place within a whole year. It reflects the trends of ethanol consumption by the population of Cyprus, depending on the season and place of residence.
The results of the study were published in the Science of the Scientific Journal of Total Environment.
According to the data obtained, alcohol consumption in Cyprus reaches its peak on weekends, increasing by more than 40% compared to everyday life. This confirms the connection between drinking, socialization and entertainment. Splash consumption on weekends were observed in Nicosia in winter and in summer. However, in the summer months in the coastal tourist area (in the study, all coastal regions were united in one for the convenience of comparison) did not observe the alternation of weekdays and weekends. In other words, due to the constant presence of tourists, alcohol consumption on weekdays and the weekend was about the same.
In Limassol, they drink the most
Limassol showed the highest average daily intake of ethanol per capita, ahead of Aiya-Napu by 140%, and Nikosia by 60%. However, the difference with Paphos and Larnaca turned out to be very small.
Ethanol consumption in the division by cities (ml/day per resident): Limassol: 2.69 mlpaphos: 2.36 million million: 2.25 million: 1.67 Mlaya-NAPA: 1.12 ml
Intensive tourist activity and nightlife significantly increase consumption, especially in the summer months - this is very noticeable in pathos and Limassol. According to the results, in the coastal areas 78.4% per annum of alcohol consumption occurred for the tourist season from May to September, and only 21.6% for the winter months.
Nicosia: Stable consumption
The capital retains stability and restraint in alcohol consumption throughout the year - from 0.31 to 10.60 ml per day per person. On the contrary, in the coastal regions, the differences were more significant: from 0.58 to 60.85 ml of ethanol per day per person. The average annual alcohol consumption in Nicosia amounted to 2.14 ml per day per person, and on the coast - 14.71 ml per person.
Thus, researchers distinguish certain stable models: • in coastal regions in the summer they consume 10 times more alcohol than in winter; • The highest volume of alcohol reaches 60.85 ml per day per person, this value is noted in coastal regions in the peak of the tourist season; • The lowest consumption - 0.26 ml per person - is recorded in Nicosia in the winter months.
They drink less than in other resorts
Compared to other Mediterranean countries, Cyprus showed a relatively low alcohol consumption. In Nicosia, on average, one resident drank 0.2 portions of the drink per day, in the coastal regions - 1.2 portions. Similar indicators are recorded in Valencia. Other popular resort directions showed higher results: • In Turkish Antalya, alcohol consumption reaches 25.9 ml per day per person; • on Lesbos (Greece) from 1.7 to 11.2 ml per day per person; • in Italy cities-from 3.8 to 22.9 ml per day per person on weekdays and 4.4-52.7 ml per day per person on festive days.
Researchers note that these data can help develop a targeted policy in the field of public health, adapted to the local and seasonal features of each region.
As noted in the study, alcohol consumption levels in Cyprus are comparable to other countries of southern Europe. However, scientists emphasize the need to strengthen the programs to inform the population about the dangers of alcohol, especially among young people and tourists.
The study was conducted by a group of Cypriot and European scientists under the leadership of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry University of TPAK. It was part of a wider pan -European monitoring of the content of various substances in wastewater.
Completely can be found here.
The text is prepared based on the materials "Filelefteros".
