Smoking kills more people than alcohol consumption on a global scale.
While both smoking and alcohol contribute significantly to mortality rates worldwide, smoking (specifically, tobacco use) is responsible for a larger percentage of global deaths. The reference provided states that smoking accounts for approximately 8% of all deaths, while alcohol accounts for approximately 5%. Although alcohol consumption is a component cause of over 200 diseases, injuries, and other health problems (more than 40 of which are wholly attributable), the overall impact of smoking on mortality is demonstrably higher. It's important to note that alcohol-related deaths may be under-reported.
Here's a breakdown:
- Smoking: Associated with a higher overall mortality rate due to diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory illnesses.
- Alcohol: Contributes to deaths through liver disease, certain cancers, heart problems, accidents, and violence.
Although alcohol poses significant health risks and contributes to a wide range of health issues, globally, tobacco use leads to a greater number of fatalities.
