Source provides the following information:
"Lifetime abstainers: people who have never consumed alcohol.
Former drinkers: people who have previously consumed alcohol but who have not done so in the previous 12-month period."
Citation formats
Share of global consumers who drink alcohol in 2016, by region
This statistic depicts the distribution of current alcohol drinkers, former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers worldwide in 2016, broken down by world region. In that year, nearly ** percent of individuals aged 15 years and older living in the Eastern Mediterranean Region were lifetime abstainers of alcohol.
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WHO. (September 21, 2018). Distribution of current alcohol drinkers, former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers worldwide in 2016, by world region [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 27, 2026, from /statistics/917303/global-alcohol-drinkers-abstainer-region/
WHO. "Distribution of current alcohol drinkers, former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers worldwide in 2016, by world region ." Chart. September 21, 2018. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 27, 2026. /statistics/917303/global-alcohol-drinkers-abstainer-region/
WHO. (2018). Distribution of current alcohol drinkers, former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers worldwide in 2016, by world region . ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2026. /statistics/917303/global-alcohol-drinkers-abstainer-region/
WHO. "Distribution of Current Alcohol Drinkers, Former Drinkers, and Lifetime Abstainers Worldwide in 2016, by World Region ." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 21 Sep 2018, /statistics/917303/global-alcohol-drinkers-abstainer-region/
WHO, Distribution of current alcohol drinkers, former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers worldwide in 2016, by world region ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/917303/global-alcohol-drinkers-abstainer-region/ (last visited July 27, 2026)
Distribution of current alcohol drinkers, former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers worldwide in 2016, by world region [Graph], WHO, September 21, 2018. [Online]. Available: /statistics/917303/global-alcohol-drinkers-abstainer-region/
