The authors of this study point out issue of alcoholism and its effective treatment during age of the first Czechoslovak Republic. Within political and expert groups this issue was more and more perceived not only as a personal problem but as a problem of the whole society. According to experts its effective treatment lied in removal of cause that triggered alcoholism, however this required more complex approach. For comparison purposes the authors provide with various approaches in USA and Russia, mostly focused on prohibition of alcohol, nevertheless establishment of these strict measures did not bring satisfactory or expected results. The first Czechoslovak Republic chose a sort of compromise when regulation of sale and serve of alcohol was put in place with system of strict punishment (in some cases even imprisonment) for those who breach the rules and mainly with regards to sale and serve of alcohol to youthful. Moreover the authors describe main legislation measures focused on fight against alcoholism mainly so called Hollitscher Act from 1922. In the end the study focuses on various forms of abstinent movement and health edification organizations during the interwar period, mainly on activities of the Czechoslovak Abstinence Association.

Key words: alcoholism – history – the first Czechoslovak Republic – anti-alcoholic legislation – Czechoslovak Abstinence Association – edification