3/20/2008

Report: Poland's alcohol consumption rising

Poles consumed more alcohol last year than ever before, marking an economic boom by increasing their spending on drinks, especially hard liquor, according to a report released Wednesday.

Poles spent more than 21 billion zlotys (US$9.6 billion; €6.1 billion) on alcoholic beverages in 2007, a 15 percent jump from the previous year, the Polska daily said, citing a report by the Nielsen Media Research company.

At the same time, wages in Poland rose around 10 percent in 2007, the report said.

The average Pole now consumes around 9.7 litters (2.56 gallons) of pure alcohol annually, compared to 6.6 liters (1.74 gallons) in 2001, according to the report, which noted a particularly sharp rises in the consumption of hard liquors such as vodka and whiskey in the nation of 38 million.

Alcohol became more accessible after Poland joined the EU in 2004, as some taxes were lifted and makers cut production costs, Nielsen expert Pawel Frynia said, according to the daily.
Despite concern over increased alcohol consumption, the government spent just 35 million zlotys (US$15.6 million; €9.9 million), or around just 1 zloty (US$0.45; €0.28) per capita, to combat alcoholism in the country, the daily quoted the State Agency for Solving Alcohol-related Problems as saying.

Agency director Krzysztof Brzozko told The Associated Press that alcohol is too accessible in Poland and the nation needs to make it harder for people, especially those under age 18, to get, to avoid becoming one of the EU's leaders in alcohol consumption.

It is illegal to sell alcohol to those under 18, but youth drinking is nevertheless a problem.
Source:iht.com



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