Which countries drink the most alcohol??

Some of us drink to quench our sadness, others to water our happiness. The same can be said of countries...

The latest figures from the World Health Organization show a new list of big drinkers based on pure alcohol bought and drank in 2007. Our number one contender, Luxembourg, I will disqualify for cheating. Their low taxes mean all neighboring countries just cross the border to stock up...

Lets se if we can explain the rest.
Ireland is depressing and Hungarians are just plain depressed... Not sure which one is the cause and which one the effect. Most likely a self-reinforcing viscous cycle providing a continuous excuse to indulge. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe with obvious needs for a reality-bender, and as far as I know, the Czechs are still the largest beer consumers in the world.

For the rest... your guess is as good as mine...

1) Luxembourg (15.6 litres per capita)
2) Ireland (13.7 litres)
3) Hungary (13.6 litres)
4) Moldova (13.2 litres)
5) Czech Republic (13.0 litres)
6) Croatia (12.3 litres)
7) Germany (12.0 litres)
8) Scotland (11.8 litres)
9) Spain (11.7 litres)
10) France (11.4 litres)

Some other intresting facts are Russia (10.3 litres), Lithuania (9.9 litres), England & Wales (9.9 litres), Australia (9.0 litres), United States (8.6 litres), Italy (8.0 litres),Canada (7.8 litres), Japan (7.6 litres), Sweden (6.0 litres), Norway (5.5 litres) China (5.2 litres).