Illicit alcohol consumption up by 300 percent - WHO survey

The consumption of illicit alcohol in the country has grown by 300 percent during the period between 2003 and 2016 while the legal alcohol consumption has increased only by 50 percent, according to a survey conducted by the World Health Organisation.

Consumption of illicit alcohol in Sri Lanka constitute 40 percent of the total consumption of alcohol, the survey further reveals.

While expressing dissatisfaction over the poor enforcement by the Department of Excise, the WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol said that the per capita alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka has grown by 95 percent during the period under consideration which is comparatively higher than regional growth rate of 55 percent of other countries in the region.

The abstainers have decreased by 38.9 percent during the period from 2003 to 2016, according to the report reveals a 29.4 percent increase in number of episodic drinkers between the period 2010 and 2016. (Dayaseeli Liyanage)