Title : Binge drinking takes toll on South Koreans

Date : 17 March 2008 0942 hrs (SST) URL : Channelnewsasia.com


SEOUL - South Koreans, already notorious for their binge drinking, are consuming more alcohol and swigging more often than ever, costing the economy billions of dollars, a survey showed Saturday.

Between 2000 and 2004 the cost of problem boozing surged 35 per cent to 20.1 trillion won (20.1 billion US dollars), research financed by the health ministry said.

The loss amounts to 2.9 per cent of South Korea's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), about two times higher than the comparable figures of other countries including Canada (1.09 per cent), France (1.42 per cent) and Scotland (1.19 per cent), according to the study.

Other government statistics showed the percentage of South Korean adults who drink at least once a week jumped to 43.6 per cent in 2003 from 28.8 per cent in 1999.

The estimated costs from excess alcohol include decreased productivity at work, treatment of drink-related health conditions and various alcohol-related accidents such as car crashes and fires.

South Koreans' after-work company outings, called hoishik or eating together, are centred on alcohol.

They usually start with Soju, vodka-like white liquor, over roasted pork.

They often continue boozing past midnight, entering a second round or a third round of drinking at karaoke bars or restaurants, drenching themselves with "Bombshells" -- cups of beer mixed with whiskey. - AFP/ar

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