Is alcohol good or bad for health? Figures reveal Hong Kong as city of big drinkers
Health experts warn that those who drink before they are 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life
While studies have linked moderate alcohol consumption to a lower likelihood of heart disease, scientists remain concerned about the health risks associated with drinking.
According to the World Health Organisation, there is a “causal relationship between alcohol consumption and more than 200 health conditions”.
Drinking may lead to depression or anxiety, cirrhosis and pancreatitis, cancer, suicide and violence, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a weakened immune system, the organisation said in a 2014 report.
According to the city’s Department of Health, drinking may also affect the development of the nervous system of the young. Those who start drinking before the age of 12 are more likely to exhibit violent behaviour.
Those who drink before they are 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life compared to those who start at or after the age of 21, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.