Addictology experts fear pandemic has increased "at risk“ drinking

One million Czechs engage in “at risk” drinking, according to Petr Popov, Petr Popov, head of the Department of Addictology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Hospital in Prague. Experts in the field fear that the coronavirus pandemic will significantly increase the number of people dependent on alcohol. The average Czech drinks 14.4 litres of pure alcohol a year, which is twice as much as the global average, with Czech men consuming four times more alcohol than women, according to a poll conducted by the research agency MEDIAN for the Ministry of Health.

Seventy years ago today, the world's first anti-alcohol detention center was established in Prague’s Apolinar hospital by chief physician Jaroslav Skála, who realized the need to treat people dependent on alcohol. His idea soon spread to other countries of the world which until then operated only repressive facilities.