Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (BUD), Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP), BEAM Inc (BEAM): These Are the Drunkest Countries in the World

The Mideast looks dry
No huge surprise here, but if you’re looking for drinking companions, the mostly Muslim Middle East and North African regions probably aren’t your best bet. Less expected — but perhaps it should have been — the tea-producing regions of Southeast Asia are also surprisingly well populated with teetotalers. “Dry” regions boasting less than 5 liters of annual grain alcohol-equivalent consumption also extend deep into Africa.

Incidentally, London-based Diageo plc (ADR) (NYSE:DEO) gets about 27% of its annual revenues from the African and Asian-Pacific markets. Planting a quarter of its business in such dry quarters may not be conducive to growing revenues, however. In contrast, bierbrauer Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (NYSE:BUD) limits its exposure to Asia-Pacific to just 7% of revenues.

Elsewhere in the world, trivia buffs will be interested to learn that former British colonies Australia and Uganda have something else in common — they’re both bright “blue” outposts of alcohol consumption in their regions. And the Aussies will be proud to learn that it’s now official, because WHO has confirmed it: They can drink the Kiwis under the table.

But the biggest surprise from this survey has to be that the drunkest country on Earth is …

Moldova? Seriously?
Seriously. Look very carefully at the map up, and see if you can find the single splash of red wine in the middle. That’s Moldova.

If you haven’t tried a Moldovan wine, you’re missing out. They may not be as good as some of the great vintages of Georgia — but they’re good enough, and they’re cheap. That’s probably a big factor behind the fact that, at a staggering 21.1 liters of pure alcohol consumed in 2007, the Republic of Moldova is the reigning world champion of alcoholism, and the drunkest place on the planet.

The article These Are the Drunkest Countries in the World originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rich Smith.

Fool contributor Rich Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Beam, Diageo, and Molson Coors Brewing (NYSE:TAP).

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.