Interactive: Alcohol abuse on the rise in Poland

Poland is also among the worst-ranking country among nations whose children drink alcohol. In fact 84.4 percent of 15-year-old have admitted to drinking alcohol in Poland in 2010. The figure grew from 56.7 percent in 2002, and places Poland fifth among the countries surveyed.

“Today, alcohol consumption by adults in OECD countries is estimated at an average of around 10 litres of pure alcohol per capita each year, equivalent to over 100 bottles of wine,” the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) wrote in a report.

“This level has fallen slightly over the past two decades overall but has particularly risen in Finland, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Consumption has also risen substantially in the Russian Federation, Brazil, India and China, although from low levels in the last two.”

The abuse of alcohol is one of the leading causes of death and disability globally. It kills “more people worldwide than HIV/AIDS, violence and tuberculosis combined,” OECD wrote.

In the two decades between 1990 and 2010, “harmful drinking rose from eighth to fifth leading cause of death and disability worldwide.” (rg)