Belarus man dies with blood alcohol level three times lethal limit

A man in Kalinkavichy has died from extreme alcohol poisoning after neighbours raised concerns about his absence. His body was discovered at home with a blood alcohol level of 10.6‰—far above the lethal threshold. Authorities confirmed the cause of death as acute ethanol intoxication. The man, who was unemployed and battled long-term alcohol abuse, had not been seen leaving his home since early March. Neighbours alerted law enforcement, leading to the grim discovery. Medical reports showed his blood alcohol concentration was nearly three times the level at which death can occur.

Belarus faces a severe alcohol-related mortality crisis. In 2021, the country recorded 38.2 deaths per 100,000 people due to alcohol, according to the World Health Organization. This marked a sharp rise since 2020, contrasting with declines in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania. A *Lancet* study also ranked Belarus first globally for alcohol-related deaths, with an age-standardised rate of 164.3 per 100,000 in 2019. The problem extends beyond mortality figures. Belarus ranks among the top three nations for years of life lost to alcohol, with 5,596 lost years per 100,000 in 2019. The country has seen the steepest post-COVID increase in alcohol harm in Eastern Europe, driven largely by spirits consumption.

The man's death highlights the extreme risks of heavy drinking in a country already struggling with alcohol-related harm. With Belarus topping global rankings for alcohol mortality, public health officials continue to face a growing challenge. The case underscores the urgent need for intervention in a region where alcohol abuse remains a leading cause of preventable death.