The draft amendment to Poland’s Education Act arrived from the Ministry of Health amid ongoing austerity and a push to curb alcohol abuse. It tackles drinking patterns but stops short of a sweeping ban on alcohol advertising, offering only a handful of changes that critics say will not meaningfully reduce use. The document even reads as if it believes in a ban, but the specific measures fall short of that goal, leaving observers to question both intent and potential impact.
The Ministry of Health Quotes that, but does not implement its recommendations
In its justification, the ministry cites World Health Organization guidance that prohibitions or strict limits on advertising, sponsorship and promotion of alcohol can support public health and shield children and young people from pressure to drink. Yet the draft does not enact a total advertising ban, a stance that appears inconsistent with the cited evidence and the logic used to justify the bill. (Source: wPolityce)
“Introduction of prohibitions or extensive limitations on advertising, sponsorship and promotion of alcohol as effective and valuable tools to improve public health and protect young people from pressure to drink,” the document states.
Despite pointing to that recommendation, the ministry does not move to implement such a prohibition. The absence of a total ban on alcohol advertising clashes with the cited scientific grounds and undermines the stated purpose of the justification.
Disruptive data about beer consumption
Official data show beer as the dominant source of alcohol in Poland. In 2023 beer accounted for roughly 53.8% of total alcohol consumption, and in 2024 the share edged up to about 55%. Yet the ministry does not propose decisive steps such as removing beer advertisements or limiting their reach. The National Center for Combating Addictions reports per capita beer consumption rising from about 87.4 liters in 2023 to roughly 93 liters in 2024. The trend aligns with other indicators showing beer purchases concentrated in the morning, a pattern that correlates with workers arriving at their jobs under the influence. Daily beer sales approach 16 million units, with approximately 2.9 million purchases occurring in the morning. (Source: wPolityce)
Alcohol advertising exposes children and adolescents
The ubiquity of beer advertising is widely cited as a major driver of youth drinking. The Ministry acknowledges the risk and proposes only to intensify penalties for violations of advertising rules rather than instituting a total ban. Critics argue that raising fines does not address exposure itself and could simply tighten enforcement of illegal ads rather than eliminating the root cause.
Why does the Ministry of Health ignore Experts?
For years, researchers, public health groups and NGOs have pressed for tighter restrictions on alcohol advertising. Yet the government and the Ministry of Health have shown limited willingness to act on these calls. A November 2024 IBRIS poll indicates that a majority of Poles supports a total ban on alcohol advertising. A civil petition, signed by tens of thousands of advocates, was delivered to the Sejm about a month earlier, signaling broad public demand for stronger action. International bodies such as the OECD advocate broader measures, including restricting sponsorship of sports events by alcohol brands, and specialists insist on wider regulations that reduce both advertising and availability.
Meanwhile, recommendations from addiction specialists to address daily harm were not incorporated into the draft. Proposals such as banning sales after late evening hours, restricting alcohol sales at gas stations, aligning excise duties with alcohol content, capping beer at 4% ABV, and limiting sales to licensed stands were not included. There is also no move to prohibit the sale of non-alcoholic beer to minors. (Source: IBRIS, November 2024; OECD statements)
Voices from institutions such as the PZH Institute of Public Health and the National Center for Combating Addictions, whose perspectives should weigh in on regulatory updates, have argued for stronger action, but their positions were not reflected in the current amendment. (Source: PZH; National Center for Combating Addictions)
The Shell act, it is not known why it was made
If the Education Act changes are kept in their present form, Poland risks missing a real opportunity to reduce alcohol consumption. The Ministry of Health, aware of the scale of the problem and citing solid research, has not pushed through a comprehensive ban on alcohol advertising.
The proposed changes are superficial and unlikely to deliver a meaningful impact on alcoholism. Poland needs bold legislative moves and broad rules that genuinely improve public health.