The impact of alcohol consumption on trend; in the European health sit
uation is analysed Particular attention is given to the impact of alco
hol on the widening of the East-West health gap in Europe. It is concl
uded that between 1950-75 the negative health impact of a rapid increa
se in per capita alcohol consumption in most European countries was hi
dden behind a strong positive development in many other socio-economic
determinants of health. Between 1980 and 1995, health trends have bee
n more closely parallel to trends in alcohol consumption. Changes in a
lcohol consumption explain a significant proportion of changes in life
expectancy, particularly in the newly independent states of the forme
r Soviet Union. Public health policy on alcohol, as part of a general
development of public health policies outside the health sector, is im
portant in reducing the East-West health gap and sustaining the positi
ve health trend in western Europe.