New data released by the Alcohol and Drugs Information Centre (ADIC) show that nearly 50 Sri Lankans die every day due to alcohol and drug use.
ADIC Executive Director Sampath D. Seram said the grim statistic reflects the urgent need for stronger regulation and sustained public awareness campaigns to combat substance abuse.
The figure aligns with findings from a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) study, which reported that around 20,000 people in Sri Lanka die prematurely each year due to alcohol- and drug-related causes.
Globally, substance use is responsible for approximately 30 million deaths annually.
UNDP’s 2023 study also revealed that alcohol consumption is a significant contributor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for 83% of all deaths in Sri Lanka. Alarmingly, one in four of those NCD-related deaths is linked to alcohol.
The economic burden of alcohol abuse was estimated at Rs. 237 billion in 2023 — substantially higher than the government’s alcohol excise revenue of Rs. 181.1 billion for the same year.
While excise revenue is expected to rise to Rs. 223.25 billion in 2024, with projected production at 33.5 million litres, Seram pointed out that financial gains from alcohol sales are being far outweighed by the human and societal costs.
Seram underscored the urgent need for stronger public awareness efforts and tighter regulatory controls, warning that the escalating human and economic toll of substance abuse can no longer be ignored.
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