From the shots of the fruit spirit pálinka, knocked back during traditional pig-slaughtering fests, to the bottle of Tokay placed on the Christmas table each year after pudding, the drinking of alcohol is deeply rooted in Hungarian culture. Many see it as part of our national heritage—the Hungarian government has campaigned at a European level for distillation of pálinka for personal use to be tax exempt. But alongside these traditions and the responsible enjoyment of alcohol, runs a more worrying strand. Adult Hungarians (those over fifteen years of age) drink the equivalent of 13.3 liters of pure alcohol per year, which ranks with the highest consumption rates in Europe. Hungary records the highest rate of alcohol-attributable cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the world.
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Gizi and Andras are drinking cheap liquor from a disposable small glass in Budapest. The couple gets money by returning used glasses from other districts. A small spirit costs 50cents, and 15 glasses are needed to fund one. Andras is on the edge of homelessness and finds shelter currently at a friend, Gizi is staying on a homeless shelter.
A festival-goer brings beer for his friends at the Balaton Sound festival, in the lakeside town of Zamárdi.
Plastic bottles of wine lies in stock at the warehouse of a grocery store in the eight district of Budapest. A bottle costs around 1 dollar and mostly made of foreign cheap wine.
Youngsters enjoy a hot evening in the Avas project in Miskolc with drinking beer and chatting
Returned used bottles are taken away from a grocery store in the eight district of Budapest..
Tibor says he cannot afford to buy his medicine – costing two dollars – so he is calming himself down with a liter of wine – costing only one dollar – at six o' clock in the morning in Budapest
White wine tasting in Budapest
Drunken bicyclist near Kalocsa. Drinking alcohol while driving a car is prohibited in Hungary. Until 2014 August the same zero percent tolerance was used against people riding a bike as well.
Men drink pálinka from a pig's hoof during a festive pig-butchering in the village of Domaszék, southern Hungary.
Tibor is distilling pálinka, a Hungarian spirit, at his home. The Hungarian government has campaigned at a European level for distillation of pálinka for personal use to be tax-exempt.
After a days work Kató and Pali are resting at their home after drinking a palinka, a Hungarian spirit, near Bicere. The soon 80 years old Kató has buried two husbands who were heavy drinkers and now lives in harmony with Pali who drinks responsibly.
Tourists chat and drink in the Szimpla ruin pub in Budapest, Hungary. With its cheap alcohol prices Budapest is a rising attraction among party going youngsters around the world.
The 75 years old Ernő has lost his leg in a truck accident. He starts his day with a shot of cheap rum in Budapest
‘My man only drinks the water, I don’t regret my maidenhood longer’ – says the sign on Kató’s self-kint wall cover. The soon 80 years old Kató has buried two husbands who were heavy drinkers and now lives in harmony with Pali who drinks responsibly.
Tamara teases her sister’s boyfriend. The sisters' mother divorced their father because of his alcohol problems, and has concerns about her daughters' choices in men.
Home made wine in the making near Bicere
A man lies passed out in the middle of a roundabout in Ózd. The former industry town’s prosperity has faded away after the regime change, the unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country.
Steve shouts "I will be sober", as he is made to come face-to-face with other attendees of the Leo Amici drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Komló, southern Hungary, during a therapy session. Steve came to the center to tackle his alcohol problems, after he had been fired from his job and his wallet stolen, having been passed out for three days.
Mihaly cleans after the chickens at the Leo Amici drug and alcohol rehabilitation foundation in Komlo. Mihaly has alcohol problems, and seeked help at the Leo Amici after his wife abandoned him.
Tamas smokes a cigarette at the Leo Amici drug and alcohol rehabilitation foundation in Komlo. Tamas has alcohol problems, and seeked help at the Leo Amici after his life got empty, and meaningless, and this frightened him.
Inmates read before sleeping at the Leo Amici drug and alcohol rehabilitation foundation in Komlo.
Tamas meets with his mother on visitors day at the Leo Amici drug and alcohol rehabilitation foundation in Komlo. Tamas has alcohol problems, and seeked help at the Leo Amici after his life got empty, and meaningless, and this frightened him.
Inmates pray together at the Leo Amici drug and alcohol rehabilitation foundation in Komló.