Alcohol Policy in a Crisis Situation

Summary The impact of the 1980 political crisis on Polish drinking is described. Alcohol prices began to rise, temporary prohibition was introduced and the military government felt it necessary to take a number of active steps to deal with excessive drinking. Long queues began to appear at liquor shops, and in late 1981 liquor rationing was introduced. All that forces combined to produce a dramatic fall in consumption. In July 1982 alcohol rationing began to be lifted. Together these events provide an interesting example of a ‘natural experiment’, illustrating the effects of multiple and acute social measures and social change on population drinking.