Currently, one can encounter numerous statements about the huge amounts of alcohol consumed by Poles in the times of the Polish People's Republic. How much truth is there in it? We drew not only the opinions of people who lived in that period, but also the knowledge of specialists and historians. It must be admitted that the statement that alcoholism was the most serious condition of the Polish People's Republic is not wrong.
Alcohol realities
Our beloved countrymen several dozen years ago were among the leading alcoholics in the world. While this statement sounds terrible and sad at the same time, it is necessary to mention the positive aspect of this phenomenon. It was a difficult period for Poles, when things were really bad in the country. Many people (especially men), escaping the frustration caused by the prevailing living conditions, got into the hands of addiction.
Alcohol undoubtedly allowed them not only to relieve the growing tension, but also to find joy and the opportunity to maintain positive social relationships with each other. In a society alcoholized to such an extent, it was difficult to find yourself without vodka on the table, which in turn was one of the most accessible food products.
Vodka from the People's Republic of Poland
Poland is famous for its delicious and high-quality vodka. We are respected all over the world for our extraordinary talent for distillation. For this reason, brands such as Belvedere are true luxury and prestige, even abroad. Although it must be admitted that Poles have a long tradition of producing high-quality alcoholic beverages, the vodka available on store shelves in the times of the Polish People's Republic left much to be desired. The popular brands were such drinks as "Gastronomiczna", "Vistula" or "Bałtyk". While, for this type of alcohol, they were very strong, the taste of these articles "cried out to heaven for vengeance". Hence, on Polish tables there was always an adequate snack in the form of starters.
Statistics
Unfortunately, it must be admitted that the statistics on alcohol consumption during the People's Republic of Poland may embarrass even the greatest enthusiasts of alcoholic beverages. In 1980, Polish citizens drank as many as 1.5 billion bottles of vodka. In 1947, the revenue from the sale of alcohol in the country amounted to around 13% and was still growing. The state's revenue was largely based on the sale of alcoholic beverages.
The national budget was completely dependent on the persistence of alcoholism. Despite this appalling dependency, efforts were made to combat the problem; the addiction was fought in various ways. Criminal sanctions have even been introduced for new types of crime related to alcohol consumption. Although this type of prohibition may seem ridiculous today, at that time, for example, stopping the sale of alcohol in the workplace was a serious and significant change.
Moonshine or: "Finally you can drink it!"
Despite the unprecedented amount of vodka produced by the People's Republic of Poland, Poles made their own liquors due to its poor quality. The still known "moonshine" was regularly present on the tables. In the days of alcohol cards, home production reached its zenith.
It is estimated that in the first half of the 1980s there were over 150,000 illegal moonshining plants operating in the country. This phenomenon, although not so intense, continues to this day, even despite the extraordinary availability of alcohol on store shelves.