SOS Children’s Villages Poland has launched a new campaign, “Kiedy słowa ‘na zdrowie!’ ranią” (“When the words ‘Cheers!’ hurt”), calling attention to the impact of alcohol on children and family life. The campaign challenges the deeply rooted cultural normalisation of drinking in Poland, from alcohol advertising and social pressure to drink to “children’s champagne” and the routine association of alcohol with celebration, relaxation and fun.

The campaign points to the scale of alcohol-related harm within families. According to the figures cited by SOS Children’s Villages, more than 51,000 new “Blue Card” domestic violence procedures were initiated in Poland in 2025, and nearly 25,000 people reported as perpetrators of domestic violence were under the influence of alcohol. Police also recorded violence against more than 29,000 children and young people that year, with hundreds subsequently placed in alternative care following interventions related to domestic violence.

A major focus of the campaign is alcohol use during pregnancy and the lifelong consequences of fetal alcohol exposure. SOS Children’s Villages stresses that there is no known safe amount or safe time for drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The organisation is also drawing attention to FAS and FASD, conditions that can affect neurological development, learning, behaviour, emotional regulation and physical health throughout a person’s life, while calling for stronger education, prevention and support for affected children and families.

The campaign’s broader message is that preventing alcohol-related harm cannot be left only to individual families. It asks society to reconsider how alcohol is presented and normalised in everyday life and highlights the responsibility of communities, institutions and adults to create safer environments for children. Alongside awareness-raising, SOS Children’s Villages is using the campaign to support children already affected by alcohol-related family problems through psychological care, therapy and long-term family support.

Find more from SOS Children’s Villages Poland (Poland, August 2026)