"Consumption of alcoholic beverages in litres of alcohol per inhabitant is lower than in the other Nordic countries, with the exception of Norway.

During the 1990s, alcoholic consumption diminished until 1993, when it was 4.7 litres of alcohol per person aged l5 years and over, but since then it rose steadily, reaching 6.3 litres per person in 2002. In spite of the relatively low total alcohol consumption, alcoholism has been a major concern in Iceland because of the habit of binge drinking of hard liquor. However, there has been a more favourable drinking pattern in recent years. In 1993, hard liquor comprised half of the total alcohol consumed, but in 2002, only one fourth. Surveys among pupils in the 10th grade have also shown a reduction in the percentage of those who consumed any alcohol during the preceding 30 days, from 42% in 1998 to 26% in 2002."

Utdrag ur: Health Care Systems in Transition (Matthias Halldorsson & Vaida Bankauskaite)