Aims: To show the impact of rapid political and economic transitions on alcohol consumption and associated mortality in different socio-demographic segments of the Polish society, with particular focus on gender differences. Two causes of death associated with drinking (liver diseases and alcohol poisoning) are investigated.
Design: Mortality time series 1986-2002 are analysed against consumption estimates and population drinking survey data.
Setting: Poland 1986-2002.
Participants: General adult population.
Measurement: Age-standardized annual and 3-year death rates were calculated for age, gender and place of residence subgroups. For education, age-standardized relative frequency of deaths or proportional mortality in four basic educational levels was calculated.
Findings: Alcohol-related mortality shows great variability in response to substantial changes in alcohol consumption. Patterns of mortality and their magnitude of change correspond with average alcohol consumption and are therefore different for men and women, for different age and educational groups and in urban and rural areas. Level of education, however, may affect alcohol-related mortality more strongly than overall alcohol intake, particularly with regard to acute consequences of drinking.
Conclusion: The Polish experience illustrates that the impact of rapid political and economic transitions on alcohol consumption and associated mortality is highly differentiated and specific to gender and social class.