Alcohol in the Countries in Transition: The Polish Experience and the Wider Context

Abstract

The Eastern European transitions of the 1990s from centrally planned economy toward market economy and from monoparty political system to multiparty democracy strongly affected the alcohol field. Rapid reduction of the State's powers and weak or nonexistent civil society led to domination of the market in both economy and social life. The alcohol supply from licit and illicit sources increased dramatically, its consumption soared, and problems related to alcohol contributed remarkably to the health crisis present in a majority of countries in transition.

In countries where civil society reemerged relatively soon and the State regained its regulatory power over the market, the mortality crisis was less severe and much shorter. Partial reintroduction of State control over the alcohol market and revival of the temperance movements reduced illicit supply and led to either stabilization or decline of alcohol consumption, which, however, still exceeds the pretransition levels. Appropriation of the alcohol sector by multinational companies diminished again the influence of the State and civil society and may lead to a new high in consumption and related problems.