The article gives an overview of actual epidemiologic data on alcohol consumption in Slovakia (SR) and the Czech Republic (CR) based on data from the WHO, and shows the position of SR and CR in alcohol consumption tables for the world and Europe. CR and SR are amongst the countries with the highest alcohol consumption in Europe (2nd and 11th place) and in the world (3rd and 13th place). Trends have shown increasing alcohol consumption in SR and CR since 1990, especially in youth and females. Over the past 40 years, Slovakia has recorded a 10-fold increase in mortality from liver cirrhosis in males and a 4-fold increase in females. The rising mortality from liver cirrhosis since 1990 in SR is the consequence of an increase in the consumption of illegal (non-registered) alcohol. In the Czech Republic, alcohol consumption has increased by 67% in the past 40 years. The article outlines trends in consumption per kind of preferred drink. In beer consumption, the Czech Republic is number one both in Europe and in the world, SR ranks 10th in Europe. In spirit consumption, SR ranks 5th, and CR 6th in Europe. In wine consumption, CR occu-pies the 22nd place, and SR the 31st place in Europe. The paper shows the risks and protective effects of alcohol, describes the borderline between safe and harmful alcohol dose, and presents actual trends of alcohol consumption in European, Slovak and Czech youth.

        Key words: alcohol consumption, effects, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, youth.