A drink to relax. Young Polish women reach for alcohol more often – and rarely say they have a problem
The latest UCERESEARCH report shows that drinking alcohol has become a part of the lifestyle of many young women in Poland. Wine and drinks accompany them not only on weekends, but also during social gatherings or moments of relaxation after work. Although they declare that they drink "only on occasion", experts warn: these occasions are frequent and can mask stress, tension and emotional overload.
UCERESEARCH data shows that drinking alcohol has become an integral part of the lifestyle of young city dwellers – regardless of whether they have 100,000 inhabitants or over half a million. As many as 83.2% of respondents from these two groups report drinking alcohol.
– Drinking wine or cocktails has become part of the lifestyle of young women,” notes the co-author of the report.
People with a net income between PLN 5,000 and PLN 6,999 have more opportunities and funds to go to bars or buy more expensive drinks. Alcohol appears to them as a form of relaxation, comfort, and sometimes – prestige.
28% of respondents declare that they drink only on specific occasions. This is the most common answer. However, as Michał Pajdak from the ePsycholodzy.pl platform notes, "occasions can occur regularly, e.g. every Friday among students, young employees or neighbors. This is so-called ritual drinking, which is not treated as risky, but rather as socially accepted."
In Polish celebration culture, it is hard to imagine a party without alcohol. Giving up drinking requires explanation and can be perceived as something unnatural or rude.
Many young adults turn to alcohol to avoid social tension, awkwardness, or judgment.
- Some people prefer to drink for the so-called peace and quiet (...) to maintain the image of a person who maintains moderation and controls the situation - comments Pajdak.
Although 23.7% of respondents declare occasional drinking, and 9.2% once a week, the actual frequency may be higher. Experts emphasize: the key is not only how often , but also how much and why .
Although only a small percentage of young adults drink every day (2.7%), regular drinking 4-5 times a week is already a concern for over 5% of respondents. This is a warning sign.
– Reaching for alcohol so often may indicate the need to relieve tension, reduce stress or cope with difficult emotions – says Pajdak.
Alcohol as a daily routine ceases to be an addition to life and becomes an addictive mechanism.
The authors of the report warn that alcohol is often a tool for temporarily silencing difficult emotions – depression, anxiety, emptiness, lack of meaning.
- This is a short-term action, which in the long term usually deepens problems and leads to a spiral of addiction – emphasizes the expert from ePsycholodzy.pl.
Too often, “drinks to relax” mask something deeper. And when there are no alternatives – sports, culture, relationships – it’s easy to reach for what’s readily available, cheap and socially acceptable.
One of the report’s conclusions is that young people often have nowhere to direct their energy. The lack of accessible and attractive ways to spend time – sports, culture, social activities – makes alcohol an easy choice.
As a result, a model is emerging in which drinking alone or in company is the norm – not pathology. And this, as experts emphasize, requires not only education, but also a real change in the social conditions of young adults' lives .
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