Alcoholic beverages, those which go through the process of fermentation, have been a staple of human society as far back as records go. In fact, the oldest known recipe in the world is not for food, but how to make beer. Examples of alcoholic beverages include beer, wine, and hard liquor (such as whiskey, tequila, and vodka). Alcohol, a depressant, is designated as a drug and regulated by governments. When comparing alcoholic consumption across countries, we will look at liters of pure alcohol. Heavy consumption of alcohol can be dangerous and lead to alcoholism. Serious side effects include decreased motor skills function, liver failure, cancer, and death.
Here are the top 20 countries with the highest alcohol consumption in the world.
| Rank | Country | Consumption per capita |
| 1. | Zimbabwe | 62.8 litres |
| 2. | Tunisia | 36.6 litres |
| 3. | Eswatini | 34.4 litres |
| 4. | Maldives | 33.7 litres |
| 5. | Afghanistan | 33.5 litres |
| 6. | Namibia | 32.4 litres |
| 7. | South Africa | 29.9 litres |
| 8. | Algeria | 29.1 litres |
| 9. | Turkey | 28.5 litres |
| 10. | Iran | 28.4 litres |
| 11. | Lesotho | 28.2 litres |
| 12. | Georgia | 27.9 litres |
| 13. | Nauru | 27.3 litres |
| 14. | Libya | 26.4 litres |
| 15. | Botswana | 26.2 litres |
| 16. | Pakistan | 26 litres |
| 17. | Uganda | 26 litres |
| 18. | Laos | 25.9 litres |
| 19. | Tanzania | 25.8 litres |
| 20. | Rwanda | 25.6 litres |
