The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) said that approximately 50 people die every day in Sri Lanka due to alcohol consumption, including both legal and illegal alcohol.
Speaking to the media, ADIC Executive Director Sampath de Seram said the figure reflects the combined impact of licensed alcohol as well as illicit liquor, stressing that alcohol-related deaths remain largely underreported in public discourse.
He noted that less than 20 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total population consumes alcohol. Among the population aged over 15 years, 34.8 per cent of men consume alcohol, while alcohol use among women remains comparatively low at 0.5 per cent.
Mr. de Seram also highlighted a growing concern over the increased use of illegal alcohol in the country. According to data from the Department of Population and Statistics, an estimated 10 per cent of alcohol consumers use illicit liquor.
“Illegal alcohol consumption has increased significantly in recent times. We have seen cases where five or six people die after consuming illicit alcohol. However, when legal and illegal alcohol consumption is taken together, around 50 people die every day due to alcohol-related causes, yet this issue receives very little public attention,” he said.
ADIC has repeatedly called for stronger public awareness, policy interventions, and enforcement measures to address the health and social consequences of alcohol use in Sri Lanka.
