The Polish NGO Fundacja GrowSPACE has launched the campaign Zero Procent Prawdy (Zero Percent Truth) to highlight how alcohol advertising, especially beer promotions, fuels early alcohol initiation among young people. Their newly published report reveals that 62.7% of Poles aged 18–29 started drinking before the legal age of 18, with 14% trying alcohol at age 14 or younger. Beer plays a central role in these early experiences, with 57% in the youngest age group reporting it as their first alcoholic drink. Nearly 45% of respondents in that age group admitted obtaining alcohol while still underage, often with ease.

The campaign calls for a complete ban on public alcohol advertising in Poland, including non-alcoholic beer ads, arguing that they normalize drinking and mislead young audiences. According to the survey, over 71% of Polish citizens support such a ban, across political lines and voter groups. Fundacja GrowSPACE also points out the legal loopholes and weak enforcement that allow alcohol advertising to remain pervasive, shaping public perception and encouraging early use.

Personal testimonies are central to the campaign. Young voices like Klaudia Bernatowicz and Krzysia Gąsiorowska share how social pressure and omnipresent beer ads affected their early drinking experiences. Others, like Michalina Kobla, a sober alcoholic, speak about the long-term impact of growing up surrounded by attractive but misleading alcohol messages. These stories aim to expose the real-life consequences of what the campaign sees as aggressive and irresponsible marketing by alcohol companies.

Fundacja GrowSPACE underscores that this initiative is timed deliberately during Poland’s presidential election campaign. Their message to candidates is direct: take a stand for public health and youth protection, not for alcohol industry profits. They argue that it’s time for state institutions, not marketing experts, to shape alcohol culture. Through this campaign, they are mobilizing public opinion to pressure policymakers for meaningful, legally binding change.

Find more from Fundacja GrowSPACE (Poland, 2025)

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