Share of alcohol consumers in Italy 2021, by region

About 66.3 percent of Italians consumed alcoholic beverages at least once over the course of 2021. According to the data, Aosta Valley was the region recording the highest share of alcohol consumers, with 70.7 percent. Liguria followed closely, with 70.1 percent of its residents’ consuming alcohol during that year. Conversely, Sicily was the region with the lowest share, with 59 percent of people drinking alcohol in 2021. In general, alcohol consumption seemed to be more common in Northern regions compared to Southern ones.

Binge drinking

Binge drinking is a pattern of excessive drinking which in Italy is more common among males. Nevertheless, the share of male individuals who binge drink has decreased over the past decade, while it has increased for women. Across the Italian regions, the Autonomous province of Bolzano recorded the highest share of binge drinkers both among females and males.

Expenses related to alcohol abuse

In 2021, roughly 63.5 thousand people in Italy took part in alcohol abuse treatment programs in rehabilitation centers, almost 10 thousand people less compared to 2013. Moreover, the costs sustained by the Italian NHS for drugs used to treat alcohol abuse and dependance decreased in the last couple of years, and in 2021 it amounted to 8.14 euros per 100 inhabitants.