Evolution, in Romania, of alcohol consumption and changes in associated harm, from a comparative European perspective

Autori:

Vlad Zeno MILLEA

Cod: ISSN: 2066-6861 (print), ISSN: 2067-5941 (electronic)
Dimensiuni: pp. 29-50

How to cite this article:

Millea, V.Z. (2018). Evolution, in Romania, of alcohol consumption and changes in associated harm, from a comparative European perspective. Social Research Reports, 10(1), 28-50.

Abstract:

In this paper we wanted to reveal the pattern of alcohol consumption in Romania, with respect to its evolution within the European context of past decades, and to highlight the incidence of diseases due to alcohol misuse from same period (trying, also, to connect the two aspects). We analyzed data provided by World Health Organization and European Commission which allowed us to evaluate the position of Romania, within Europe, concerning the evolution of alcohol consumption and its consequences. As an important result, we found that in Romania coexist the highest share of people who declared themselves as abstainer and the highest proportion of patients with liver disease caused by alcohol abuse. But Romania has, also, the most big rate of patients with liver disease due to other causes than alcohol misuse and we must consider that structural aspects of the medical system are involved in this problem (i.e. difficulties in identify C hepatitis, the precariousness of its prophylaxis, etc.). As conclusion, we suggest, as starting point for other research, that Romanians consume much more alcohol than shows official records due to household production (difficult to control) and that alcohol consumption is very unequal distributed. In this regard, we assume the existence of a (under-estimated) group of persons addicted (or practicing “binge drinking”) which consume high quantities of alcohol (containing harmful substances, due to artisan production or to the lack of quality tests for beverages sold in stores). Also, we consider that in our country are lacking resources (or aren’t well managed) for medical care and public policies targeting the prevention of illnesses related to alcohol misuse