The economic costs of alcohol consumption in Lithuania, 2015–20

Abstract

Alcohol per capita consumption in Lithuania among the population 15 years of age and older has been among the highest globally in recent decades. Long-term alcohol consumption trends and drinking patterns signal a significant public health problem, as well as social and economic losses. This study aimed to estimate the economic burden associated with alcohol consumption in Lithuania from 2015 to 2020. We used a cost-of-illness methodology with the human capital approach to estimate the economic burden and applied a prevalence-based approach. Using multiyear data, we estimated both, direct and indirect costs. Direct costs included healthcare and childcare, law enforcement, and justice system costs. Indirect costs included costs of productivity loss due to premature mortality. The total economic cost of alcohol consumption in Lithuania between 2015 and 2020 was estimated at an annual average of €542.958 million (in 2020 Euros) or about 1.18% of the Lithuanian total Gross Domestic Product. The highest proportion (65%) of the estimated costs was associated with productivity losses due to premature mortality. Alcohol use places a considerable burden on Lithuanian society in terms of illness, injury, death, and economic costs. Alcohol control policies, in particular excise taxation increases and availability restrictions have been shown to decrease this burden.