Lessons to be learnt from Poland's attempt at moderating its consumption of alcohol

This paper analyses the interplay between alcohol policy and research in Poland during the last two decades. It was a period of profound political and economic changes that strongly influenced the alcohol scene. In the 1970s alcohol was treated as a secret issue. Despite a rapid growth of alcohol consumption neither the authorities nor media expressed any concern about the growing wave of related problems. Funding allocated to research was very low and only a few devoted individuals continued their studies, albeit on a reduced scale. The beginning of the 1980s saw a sudden politicization of the alcohol issue. The government was blamed for pushing alcohol. In response to this challenge, alcohol controls were tightened. A huge programme of alcohol research was initiated to accumulate knowledge and evidence for further alcohol policy, as well as to symbolize a high priority of the alcohol issue. In following years, however, the political significance of alcohol decreased. The system established for its control was eroded, and finally collapsed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The huge research evidence that was accumulated during the 1980s is not being applied to alcohol policy, which itself has virtually ceased to exist.