Alcohol consumption and liver cirrhosis mortality after lifting ban on beer sales in country with state alcohol monopoly.

Abstract

The objectives were to study alcohol consumption per capita and liver cirrhosis mortality in the population of Iceland. The Statistic Iceland website supplied alcohol sales figures and death rates. The alcohol consumption increased 30% during the study period 1982-2009, because of increase in beer and wine, and decrease in spirits consumption. Chronic liver cirrhosis mortality increased significantly for men when comparing the 1982-88 rates (before beer ban was lifted) with the rates for 2003-09. The findings do not support the suggestion that spirits consumption rather than the total alcohol consumption affect the cirrhosis mortality.