DAK-Gesundheit has launched the 2026 edition of its youth alcohol prevention campaign “bunt statt blau” (“colourful instead of blue”), subtitled “Kunst gegen Komasaufen” (“art against binge drinking”), together with North Rhine Westphalia’s education minister Dorothee Feller as patron. Now in its 17th year, the campaign invites students aged 12 to 17 to design posters that address binge drinking and alcohol intoxication. Since the campaign began in 2010, around 143,000 children and adolescents have taken part nationwide. The submission deadline for the 2026 competition is 31 March.

The campaign follows a clear prevention logic by bringing the issue of alcohol harm into everyday school life and encouraging young people to reflect on risks through their own creative work. Schools across Germany are invited to participate, and teachers can use lesson materials and parent information developed by IFT-Nord as part of the broader prevention initiative “Aktion Glasklar” (“clear glass action”). The focus is on binge drinking, defined as consuming large amounts of alcohol within a short period, up to a level that can lead to serious health risks.

In North Rhine Westphalia, the campaign is accompanied by data indicating a continued decline in alcohol-related hospital admissions among young people. According to IT.NRW, the Statistical Office of North Rhine Westphalia, 1,799 children and adolescents aged 10 to under 20 were treated in hospital in 2024 following acute alcohol intoxication. This included 878 boys and 921 girls, meaning girls and young women accounted for just over half of all cases. Compared with 2023, the total number of cases fell by 2.2 percent.

Young people can take part individually, as part of a team, or through their school class, and posters may be created using drawing, painting, photography, or digital design, provided they follow the required DIN A2 format. The competition includes prizes at both state and national level, as well as special awards for younger participants and for social media contributions shared with the hashtag #bsb2026. The national jury includes the Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drugs, Prof. Dr. Hendrik Streeck, together with DAK-Gesundheit’s CEO Andreas Storm, who select the federal winners from among the state-level finalists.

Find more from DAK-Gesundheit (Germany, January 2026)

Winners from 2025