Towards improved public health: Affecting alcohol and tobacco affordability and consumption in Poland through taxation

Alcohol consumption levels, as well as mortality and morbidity resulting from alcohol misuse, are at unprecedented levels in Poland. One of the most prominent factors very likely influencing this surge is the generally affordable prices of alcohol products. In 2015, Polish consumers could buy roughly twice as much beer, wine, and spirits with their disposable income compared to 2001. This increase in alcohol products affordability was one of the most pronounced among all high-income countries. One way to reverse these trends in affordability is through alcohol taxation. Cigarette taxes can serve as an example of a successful use of fiscal policy to reduce product affordability and advance public health goals. Significant cigarette tax increase resulted in higher cigarette prices and lower cigarette affordability. In Poland, from 2007 to 2015, significant declines in smoking rates and decreases in lung cancer rates were noted. Positive experiences with tobacco taxation should serve as guiding examples for governments to successfully utilise similar excise tax policy approaches in the control of alcohol-related diseases.