Which countries in Europe have the biggest alcohol problem? Why Britain’s issues are rivalled only by former Soviet countries

Chatting to a Ukrainian friend last night (over a small glass of wine), she remarked on how she had been shocked by the level of alcohol consumption when she first arrived in Scotland.

On work nights out, she found people downing shots, necking pint after pint of beer – something she was not used to back home. In Ukraine, she says, eking out one or two drinks a night over a good conversation is the norm. The drink is not the point of the evening, the social interaction is.

My friend’s observation ties in with an analysis of World Health Organisation data by Abbeycarefoundation.com of alcohol consumption in European countries.

The UK and Ireland are both ranked on the list of the worst European nations, which is predominantly made up of former Soviet territories. The report considered alcohol consumption per capita, the proportion of deaths connected to alcohol and alcohol use disorders within a population. It also took into account binge drinking and the rate of road traffic deaths due to alcohol.

Russia is top of the list of European countries' alcohol consumption. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

Perhaps unsurprisingly, as the vodka capital of the world, Russia has the most alcohol-related problems from consumption to alcohol-related deaths, disorders and road accidents, according to the analysis. Russians reported the second-highest percentage of heavy episodic drinking over a month, with 60 per cent of people saying they had indulged in binge drinking – compared to 40 per cent in the UK. Meanwhile, a shocking one in five deaths in Russia cite alcohol as a contributing factor, with 14 per cent caused directly by alcohol.

Russia is followed by close – both geographically and politically – neighbour Belarus, while former Soviet countries Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Estonia and Slovenia also make the list. Latvians consume 13 litres a year per head, one of the highest levels of consumption in Europe, and Estonians have one of the highest levels of alcohol use disorders with more than 12 per cent of the population reporting having issues with alcohol.

Ireland comes in fifth while the UK is ranked tenth – largely due to a high level of alcohol-related road deaths in both countries. Poland is ninth.

While we should be particularly ashamed, no European nation should be proud of its performance. The global average for alcohol consumption is 6.18 litres, while the European average is almost double at 11.85 litres. Many country’s governments have recently taken steps to improve the situation, cracking down on alcohol marketing and advertising in a bid to curb heavy drinking.

Under proposals to cut alcohol consumption unveiled last year, the Scottish Government put forward plans to prohibit alcohol-branded sports merchandise and ban alcohol advertising at any sports match that could have children in the audience. It also said it would consider plans to stop alcohol advertising in public spaces and was considering whether alcohol ads should be banned on TV, or only shown after a watershed.

However, following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf’s election to the position of First Minister, the plans have been put on hold. Mr Yousaf said earlier this month the Government would now go "back to the drawing board" on alcohol advertising proposals. Existing regulations fall far short of those already adopted by many European countries.

It is clear more urgently needs to be done.