Alcohol and tobacco usage in SL decline, reveal latest surveys

ALCOHOL consumption in Sri Lanka has shown a decade-long downward trend, with a new 2024 survey revealing that fewer than 30% of men are current drinkers.

- By SHANIKA SRIYANANDA

Despite the overall decline, the survey highlights that young people remain a vulnerable group.

Another survey conducted has revealed that tobacco use has also recorded a significant reduction in Sri Lanka and that the rate of current smokers among men has fallen to 21.6%.

Both studies were conducted by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) in 2024 and found that most of the young people view drinking alcohol as a purposeless behaviour and smoking as a useless behaviour.

According to the studies, there is a significant generational shift in attitudes, with young people increasingly quitting alcohol and smoking.

The “Trend Survey on Alcohol Consumption in Sri Lanka — 2024” surveyed males aged 15 and above across 11 districts, including Colombo, Jaffna, Galle, and Badulla. It found that 29.1% of participants were current consumers, defined as having consumed alcohol within the 30 days prior to the survey. This continued decline is attributed to successful alcohol control policies, public awareness campaigns, and community interventions.

The most striking is the finding that 27.9% of all participants reported being successful quitters. The motivations for quitting, however, varied significantly by age. While older individuals cited health concerns, younger people were more likely to quit because they perceived drinking as pointless.

The study highlights the need for age-specific prevention strategies that address the different values of each generation.

Despite the positive trend in quitting, the survey emphasises the powerful role of social influence in starting to drink as a significant 46.6% of current consumers reported that their first experience with alcohol was with friends. This finding reveals the critical importance of addressing peer pressure in prevention efforts, especially for young people.