In Albania and Montenegro, alcoholic beverages are more expensive than other countries in the region, and are even above the European Union average.

Eurostat has published the price index map for alcoholic beverages. In Albania, this index is 107.8%, which means that alcoholic beverages cost about 8% more expensive than the European Union average. In Montenegro they cost 11.3% more than the EU average. 

Cheaper alcohol in Balkan region is found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as much as 75.4% of the EU average, which is in fact the country in Europe where this product costs the cheapest. 

When price levels in countries are compared to the EU average price index of 100, the results show that in 2019, the price of alcoholic beverages (alcoholic beverages, wine and beer) was the highest in Finland (with a level index of price 191), followed by Ireland (182) and Sweden (156). 

In contrast, alcoholic beverage price levels in 2019 were the lowest in Romania (with a price level index of 76), followed by Bulgaria (79) and Hungary (80).

According to a previous INSTAT publication, gender differences in alcohol consumption show that men in Albania are the ones who with age tend to consume more alcohol compared to women. 

73.4% of respondents women and 38.3% of men report that they do not drink alcohol, while among women only 23.0% of them state that they drink alcohol 1 to 3 days a month or less, compared to men with 31.8%. 

According to INSTAT, alcohol abuse is a serious problem which in itself carries a great risk to the health of the population, as well as many family, social and employment problems.