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| Two glasses filled with traditional Albanian brandy and a grape seed on a black table |
Albanians are ranked among the people who consume the least alcoholic beverages in Europe, at least according to official data.
According to Eurostat, which publishes consumption data according to purchasing power for European countries, in 2021, the consumption of alcoholic beverages in Albania was 19% of the European Union average, Monitor reports.
According to this ranking, our country was the last in Europe, leaving behind only Turkey, with 5% of the European average, Monitor reportsë
The data for Kosovo is for the year 2020, but the consumption there is slightly higher than in Albania, with 22% of the European average.
This low share of Albania can also be related to the high level of informality in the production of alcoholic beverages, as wine and brandy are largely artisanal products.
In the region, the most drinkers are Montenegrins, with 41% of the European average, and Serbs, with 41%. North Macedonia ranks after them, with 39%.
Consumption in Bosnia and Herzegovina is at similar levels to Albania, at 21% of the European average.
While the consumption is low, the prices of alcoholic beverages in Albania are as much as 122% of the European average, according to Eurostat tables, being a factor that can affect the willingness of consumers to buy this product. Alcoholic beverages are the cheapest in Europe in North Macedonia, with 81% of the European average, and the most expensive in Sweden, with 219% of the European average.
The nominal expenditure per capita for alcoholic beverages in Albania in 2021 was 86 euros, compared to 286 euros, which is the average of the European Union, according to Eurostat tables.
The most drinking countries in Europe
The Swiss are the first in Europe for the consumption of alcoholic beverages with 208% of the European average. They are followed by Austrians (146%), Estonians (139), Latvia (138), Lithuania (137), and Germany (131), which are mainly cold countries.
While the Balkans and Mediterranean countries are less drinkers, as the consumption of alcoholic beverages is on average 20-30% lower than the European average. For example, in Italy, the indicator is 69%, and in Spain 75%. Consumption is significantly lower in Greece, at 28% of the European average.
[Alcoholic drink consumption (% of EU average), 2021:
Switzerland 208
Austria 146
Estonia 139
Latvia 138
Lithuania 137
Germany 131
Czechia 125
Poland 119
United Kingdom (2020) 117
France 115
Denmark 111
Finland 111
Croatia 110
Iceland 104
Sweden 102
European Union – 27 100
Belgium 100
Cyprus 97
Norway 97
Netherlands 93
Hungary 88
Ireland 87
Slovakia 87
Romania 77
Spain 75
Italy 69
Slovenia 66
Montenegro 65
Portugal 60
Malta 47
Bulgaria 43
Serbia 41
North Macedonia 39
Greece 28
Kosovo (2020) 22
Bosnia and Herzegovina 21
Albania 19