Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-2001 History, culture and alcohol: Drinking patterns in Poland and Australia Barbara Wolska Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Community-Based Research Commons, and the Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons Recommended Citation Wolska, B. (2001). History, culture and alcohol: Drinking patterns in Poland and Australia. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1040 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1040 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. 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HISTOR\t', (�lJL�flJRE ANI) AL(:OH()I..: DRINKING PATTERNS IN POLAND AND AUSTRALIA Barbara \\'olska Lekarz medJ·cyn�- A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of r\iaster of Health Science at the Facult,· of Communications. Health and Science at Edith Cowan l niversit). Date of submission: November 200 I USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. AHSTRACT lt is a widely held view m Poland that for centuries those in power have promoted heavy drinking among their subjects in order to achieve their various goab and that this contributed to the development of Polish drinking patter,1s There is some empirical evidence that the political economy of alcohol in Poland promoted heavy drinking among the Polish population Drinking alcohol in Poland was an important aspect of social situations The most popular beverage was vodka(s) Social pressure to drink in the extreme was attributed to the tradition of hospitality Cultural norms encouraged very heavy drinking among men and imposed heavv social sanctions on \\<'Omen who were supposed to display virtues of abstinence The typical model of drinking was intermittent very heavy drinking. leading to intoxication on most occasions These norm!- reinforcedthe notion that "we can drink more because we are Poles" and the view that safe drinking messages are designed for other nations because ··Poles are accustomed to drinking strong alcohol. unlike others.. Adult male informants reported drinking much less in Australia than in Poland The biggest change was a lack of social pressure to dnnk A.lthough men claimed that they drink less. some still drink in an unsafe manner These \\'ere largely those whose English skills restricted their employment and friendship networks. Women. on the other hand. admitted that in Australia thev drink more often and more alcohol at a ,;itting than in Poland Although informants did not mention any alcohol-related family problems in Australia. others reported alcohol­ related violence within some families Some safety messages about alcohol do not reach this sample of people Many view drink driving rules as purel�· revenue raisers forthe government. However. advice from their medical practitioners to reduce their alcohol intake for serious health reasons is given more credibility II Young Polish Australians formed two groups in their attitude to drinking The first group consisted of people who attended tertiary educational institutions and consumed alcohol in a similar fashion to other Australian students It is likely that the university environment influenced their drinking patterns Those who witnessed drinking at home and perceived it as a good thing, modelled their drinking on their parents' and other adults at home Others. who perceived their parents as non­ drinkers, learned to drink from their friends and displayed similar drinking patterns to their peers The second group was older. some were in the workforce and manifested drinking patterns akin to those in the general Australian population in the same age bracket Both groups of these young Polish Australians were much more aware of alcohol health messages and more likely to modify their behaviours such as not to drink and drive. than was the older population However. other drinlcing­ related health warnings were largely disregarded This research demonstrates the negative impact of reduced government funding for English programs and ethno-specific services for migrant groups More research is needed on migrant drinking in Australia. specifically among those groups whose drinking continues to be problematic Ill DECLARATl()N I certify that this thesis does not. to the best of my knowledge and belief (i) incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or C1iploma in any institution of higher education. (ii) contain any material previously published or \vritten by another person except where due reference is made in the text. or (iii) contain any defamatory material I\ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Research in general. a.'ld in social and health fields in particular. does not take place in a vacuum It concerns the researcher and the participants of the study It also draws in numerous other people I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those invaluable assistants who helped in the conception of this project I thank all the people from the Polish community whose involvement and contribution made this study possible To the staff of Edith Cowan University library. Shirley in particular. many thanks for your assistance. I am grateful to all academic staffand students from the School of International. Cultural and Community Studies postgraduate seminar for their input of ideas. I would also like to express my gratitude to the friendly staff from the National Drug Research Institute. Curtin L'niversity of Technology. for letting me use the library. John, I remain in your debt. thank you ever so much for searching for all those obscure publications To Associate Professor Dennis Gray thank you for your input during the proposal seminar and your help during the last stages of writing. I would like to thank my family for their support and help during the whole research. Thank you Gosia for your advice on writing. Peter for being a library messenger, Jack for occasional help in the garden when I had no time for it and Maurice for your technical help with my computer And most of all. I thank my husband Pawel forall those hours being my electronic manager Your help saved me a lot of time and frustration \ And last but not least my thanks go to my supervisors Thanks to Associate Professor Lynne Hunt for your valuable input into my work Detailed comments on each draft were most helpful Your kind advice and encouragement was precious And finally I would like to thank Associate Professor Sherry Saggers from the School of International. Cultural and Community Studies She has guided me through the labyrinth of English language and a new academic field Without her I would still be deep in the forest She supported and encouraged me when self-doubt had set in l am in eternal debt to you Sherry. thank you for taking this journey with me. It must have been a painful trip for you Taking on a linguisticallv diverse student must have been a very trying task indeed Thank you for not giving up on me. I feel honoured and extremely lucky that karma brought you into my life path \"1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT II DEC LARA TlON. IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V TABLE OF CONTENTS VII INTRODUCTION Purpose of the Study 2 Organisation of thesis. 2 2 ALCOHOL IN THE PAST AND PRESE�T 4 Introduction.. 4 A Short History of Alcohol 4 Alcohol Regulation.. 8 Europe... 8 Australia..... IO Alcohol in Contemporary Life 11 Social benefits of drinking 1.1 Health benefits of alcohol . 14 Alcohol-Related Harm. 15 Chronic health problems due to regular use of alcohol I 7 Acute alcohol-related problems . 18 Social harm.. ., . .. .. 20 Consumption Levels and Drinking Patterns. 21 Alcohol and culture. .22 Australia... .23 Poland ..... ...... ' .. 26 Australia as a Migrant Country ................................. 27 \ 11 3 METHODOLOGY ..... .31 Rationale .. 31 Sampling.. 33 Information about the sample 33 Choosing the sample 34 Adult informants 35 Young informants 37 Methods of Data Gathering. 39 Interviews 39 Documentary techniques 42 Participantobservation 42 Data Analysis. 45 Credibility .. 45 Investigator credibility ... 45 Transferability .. 46 Ethical Considerations. 47 Summary. 47 4 THE ST A TE AND ALCOHOL IN POLAND 48 Introduction. 48 A Short Introduction to the History of Poland 49 The Role of Alcohol in the Economy of Poland 51 Propina,:Ja.. _ Annexation of Poland and its influence on the alcohol economy 5.� Alcohol as an economic tool in the 20th century Poland 55 Politics and Alcohol. _. 58 The Temperance Movement in Poland .. 65 State Regulation and Restrictions on the Availability of Alcohol (,9 Summary ............................................. .76 5 THE ROLE OF ALCOHOL IN TRADITIONAL POLISH LIFE _ 77 Introduction._ ............ _ .................. _........ __ . 77 Social Life and Drinking Patterns........... .. .. ... 79 Food in Poland. .... .. .. .. ... ... ... .. .. .. ... .. ..81 ,·111 Beverages...