Alcohol availability, consumption, and knowledge of alcohol-related cancer risk among citizens of Warsaw

Abstract

Introduction. The high availability of alcohol products and low awareness of their harmful effects appear to influence individual health conditions and cancer risk. Material and methods. We used publicly available data on alcohol retailers in Warsaw to assess the availability of alcohol products for each district of the city and the AUDIT C questionnaire to assess drinking behavior. Results. Alcohol outlets were located within 500 meters of residence for most of the study group. We found risky alcohol consumption in about 15% of respondents. Knowledge about the harmfulness of excessive alcohol consumption had a statistically significant effect on the number of drinks consumed (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The study confirmed the high availability and affordability of alcoholic products and the high percentage of risky alcohol behaviors among Warsaw’s citizens. In addition, low awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol was associated with higher consumption, which emphasizes the need to improve educational strategies.