Poles spend some zł.2 billion a year on illegal alcohol, with 15 percent of spirit-based drinks in Poland currently coming from illegal sources, reports Parkiet. And due to the on going economic crisis producers and distributors fear this figure will further increase demand for illegal drinks in the future.

The growth in the illegal drinks trade is losing the Polish alcohol industry up to zł.1.2 billion a year. But the cost of consuming illegal beverages is not only financial as the recent spate of deaths in the Czech Republic due to the consumption of methanol has shown.

However, Polish alcohol firms are now hoping that the alcohol-related deaths in Poland's neighboring country will make people more aware of the dangers related to drinking illegal alcohol.

Poland A.M.