Alcohol consumption in Polish middle and high school pupils--has this rapidly increased during 2009-11?

INTRODUCTION The dynamic rise of alcohol consumption in adolescents is a matter of serious concern, requiring frequently updated monitoring. By such means, it is possible to optimise preventative measures for dealing with this problem. OBJECTIVE To estimate the magnitude/amount and frequency of alcohol consumed by middle and high school pupils in Poland, including the circumstances when alcohol was first drunk. MATERIALS AND METHODS A randomised survey was performed throughout Poland on middle school (junior high school) pupils, (n=9360) in 2009, followed by both middle and high school pupils in 2011 (n=7971). The questionnaire was devised by the Polish Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS). RESULTS A strikingly sharp increase in alcohol consumption (29%) was observed in subjects between 2009 - 2011. In the latter year, 1 month prior to survey, respectively, 50% and 71% of middle school and high school pupils drank alcohol, and correspondingly, 36% and 63% of these pupils ever became intoxicated/drunk. CONCLUSIONS 1) Adolescent alcohol consumption increases with age and is highest in girls. Monitoring as well as in-depth analysis thus becomes necessary. 2) Systematic monitoring and analysis of changing healthy lifestyle behaviour should be used for taking the necessary corrective action. This should happen concurrently and consist of planned health education programmes, including health promotion.