Every year the “National Alcohol Observatory” of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità draws up a report for monitor alcohol consumption In Italy, with the aim of supporting effective prevention and abuse prevention policies. This type of study has been necessary because, to date, alcohol consumption represents one of the main causes of risk for human healthcontributing both to disability and mortality. Alcohol, in fact, has properties not only intoxicating but also carcinogenic and a strong ability to induce dependence.
Alcohol abuse also has serious side effects not only on consumers, but also indirectly on third parties: victims of road accidents, episodes of violence and complications in pregnancy. According to the report, in recent years there has been a progressive institutional disinterestdue to economic and commercial interference that have hindered health protection policies. In Italy there are no adequate structures for the treatment of alcohol-dependence, funding for effective interventions and targeted prevention measures. The 2025 ratio is particularly significant: it should have marked one reduction of consumption Thanks to the strategies already adopted, but the data show an increase in per capita consumption, a growth of risk behaviors and a mortality related to the alcohol remained unchanged. The study reveals not only the Italian regions with the highest consumption, but also the social and cultural dynamics that explain their increase.
The Italian regions where you drink more
According to what emerges from the 2025 relationship of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the consumption of alcohol divides Nord and South. The regions of the North and the Center show in fact higher consumption percentagesabove all consumption at risk, binge drinking and surplus use of alcohol; On the contrary, in the South and in the islands the data remain more content.
On the podium of the regions where you drink more we find:
- the autonomous province of Bolzano;
- the Aosta Valley;
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia;
- Tuscany.
Entering a specific fact, to give a example, in the Aosta Valley over 33% of men and 14.5% of women are “consumers at risk”. On the contrary, the lower percentages are found in:
- Campania;
- Calabria;
- Sicily;
- Sardinia.
To curb excessive alcohol consumption in these regions seem to be cultural and social, but also religious traditions. In these regions, in fact, the average of risk behaviors is well below 10%. In the regions of the center and northern Italy, however, it is the styles of social life, especially of young people (we have told what young people drink in another study), to increase the number of consumer subjects of alcohol, with worrying tips in particular for the male population.
Why do you drink more in the center and north?
It may seem like an obvious, but in the center and northern Italy it drinks more. The data emerge in a rather clear way, especially in the light of a regular trend over the years. The problem is that the greatest alcohol consumption is accompanied by another data: consumption at risk.
Reasoning together with the relationship, this phenomenon can be explained first of all from a cultural point of view. In fact, in many areas of the North, as in Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, alcohol consumption is rooted in social and family habits. Alcohol drinks not only at the table, but also for socialize Through aperitifs, country parties and festivals.
On the contrary, in the South and in the islands the relationship with alcohol is more moderate. One could also think that a lower diffusion of bars and night clubs limits consumption, but much could be due to perception of risk and the possibility of accessing services. Where there is a greater normalization of drinking off -meal or excess, awareness of the damage related to these behaviors often lack. It is also true that in the north the prevention and treatment of alcohol dependence are concentrated in the north (as well as the best health structures), which tells two truths: greater attention from the regions, but also the presence of a more rooted phenomenon.
Beyond the regional differences, what worries is the absence of a turnaround compared to previous years. This tells us about prevention strategies that are not affecting cultural habits and, on the contrary, that the economic and social fragility of the population maintains or does increase the consumption of substances like alcohol.
Who drinks more: gender and age
Another fact that emerges from the relationship is who the greatest alcohol consumers are and what the segments of the population most at risk are. Also in this case, however, the data can be divided into geographical areas, because they vary a lot. For example, Bolzano It is the region with the highest rate of binge drinking among men (24.2%), while the region where the highest consumption at risk between women (14.5%) is recorded is the Valle d’Aosta.
Another factor of concern emerges, namely the binge drinking – that is, the intake of several alcoholic beverages in a more or less short time interval – particularly widespread in the youth range, especially male. The national average is of the 19.6% among men and of the8.6% among women. The major peaks are found in the northern regions and in different most famous university cities. In the youth band, especially, it is the consumption outside meals, linked precisely to the social dynamics mentioned above, to be the master.
The risks of the lack of prevention
The numbers that emerged from the report on alcohol consumption do not tell only in which regions they drink more, but trace a worrying picture of Health and social risks tied to alcohol. In fact, we know that alcohol is responsible for over 40 directly attributable pathologies and over 200 conditions influenced in part by consumption. Among these there are tumors, cardiovascular diseases, but also accidents, violence and mental disorders.
The World Health Organization, not surprisingly, underlines:
No consumption level is safe for health.
From Italian data, alcohol consumption reduces life expectancy even in the cases defined as “moderate”. In addition, consumption contributes to 0.7% of overall health expenditure.
On the other hand, the prevention front is critical, because an organic strategy is missing and properly financed. The relationship is hard on the topic, because in Italy:
- 90% of people with alcohol use disorder do not receive adequate treatment;
- Out of 780,000 alcoholic, only 65,000 are in charge of territorial services;
- To date, there is no national alcohol and health plan, updated and financed.
But the report is not limited to criticism: proposes to introduce a minimum taxation on alcoholto regulate the marketing aimed at young people and women and to promote school programs and “alcohol-free” campaigns. In addition, early screening must be increased to detect diseases related to alcohol consumption and abuse.
The report also makes two accounts in your pocket at the National Health Service and calculates that For each euro spent In prevention, savings are around 16 euros. Compared to the 2030 Agenda, however, Italy is still strongly delayed on almost all targets, including that of the 10% reduction of consumption by 2025.
