The level of consumers’ knowledge on the influence of ethyl alcohol on health – a review of literature

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is commonplace all over the world, and excessive consumption has numerous health consequences. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a change in ethanol consumption behaviour. There are not many review studies that have examined the level of consumers’ knowledge of the health effects of ethyl alcohol. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and beliefs among consumers regarding the impact of ethyl alcohol on health.

A review of the available research showed that the knowledge in the context of all assessed aspects is insufficient regardless of the study group. The term “standard drink” for ethyl alcohol is often unknown or not understood, which translates into higher consumption. The energy value of alcoholic beverages is often underestimated as are the health consequences of excessive consumption. The analysed studies also indicated that there is a lack of knowledge on the impact of ethyl alcohol on pregnancies and lactation, and the internet is the most common source of knowledge in this area. Therefore it seems necessary to conduct educational activities, taking into account the participation of health professionals and educational institutions, aimed at increasing consumer awareness of the impact of ethanol on health.