The Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors’ Association (PHIA) has sounded a strong warning over what it describes as a deepening public health and economic crisis driven by rising alcohol consumption and the rapid spread of illicit liquor across the country.

Presenting findings from recent surveys, PHIA Secretary Chamil Muthukuda said nearly 37 percent of alcohol users in Sri Lanka consume illicit liquor, a trend he warned is already placing severe strain on the national health system and the broader economy.

“The scale of alcohol abuse we are seeing today is unprecedented,” Muthukuda said, noting that illicit alcohol now accounts for more than one-third of total alcohol consumption in the country.

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, the PHIA said illicit alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka has increased by more than 300 percent in recent years, far outpacing global trends. Worldwide, overall alcohol consumption has risen by about 95 percent, according to WHO reports.

The PHIA warned that alcohol abuse is a major contributor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which already dominate Sri Lanka’s disease burden. Muthukuda said illicit liquor frequently contains highly toxic substances, including methyl alcohol and heavy metals, causing extensive and often irreversible damage to internal organs.

“Prolonged alcohol use leads to memory loss, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure and cancers,” he said. “Beyond physical illness, it fuels mental stress, family disputes and the breakdown of social structures.”

According to data compiled from the WHO and relevant government ministries, alcohol consumption directly or indirectly causes between 15,000 and 20,000 deaths annually in Sri Lanka—around 40 to 50 deaths each day. About 20 percent of fatal accidents in the country are linked to alcohol use, the PHIA said.

Muthukuda added that 85 percent of deaths related to alcohol and drug use are caused by non-communicable diseases, while one in every four deaths nationwide is attributed to alcohol consumption.

The economic fallout is equally severe. The PHIA estimates that alcohol-related harm costs Sri Lanka approximately Rs. 237 billion each year through healthcare expenditure, lost productivity and social damage.

The association urged authorities to strengthen enforcement against illicit liquor production and distribution, while expanding prevention, awareness and treatment programmes, warning that failure to act swiftly could further undermine both public health and economic stability.