Voodoo Monkey drink pouches. Credit: Facebook, Szymon Hołownia
The Polish government is stepping up its efforts to curb underage drinking with a set of new measures aimed at tightening restrictions on alcohol sales.
This move comes in response to growing concerns about alcohol consumption among minors and the alarming trend of alcohol being marketed in ways that appeal to children. According to a report by Euronews, the new rules are also in comeback to ‘rising reports of car crashes and other accidents involving youth under the influence of alcohol’.
Poland s plan to tighten alcohol sales restrictions for minors was recently announced by the Ministry of Health. Under current Polish law, it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18. However, the government is proposing even stricter regulations to combat the issue. A key focus is making alcohol less accessible to minors by limiting sales in convenience stores and restricting the hours during which alcohol can be purchased.
“The sellers will have to be more attentive and responsible in their role,” Poland s Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna told Radio Zet on Thursday.
Polish alcohol sold in child-like packaging
Adding to the urgency of this intervention is a recent scandal involving alcohol being sold in pouches that closely resemble children’s juice drinks. This packaging has caused a public outcry, as it seems to target younger consumers. The drink (Voodoo Monkey) is owned by Owolovo, a Polish business that offers a range of colourful plastic pouches containing either vodka or liqueur, with an alcohol content ranging from 15 to 40 per cent.
In late September, the Polish government intervened after discovering several brands of alcohol sold in child-friendly packages. Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of Polish parliament branded the product as “pure evil”.
Europe’s underage drinking problem
Many European nations, including Spain, have been grappling with underage drinking and the marketing of alcohol to younger audiences.
The 2019 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) data highlighted that alcohol use remains widespread among adolescents, with 79 per cent of school students having tried alcohol at least once in their lives.
As alcohol marketing strategies become more creative, parents and guardians must stay vigilant about the products being marketed to their children.
Poland’s tough stance on underage alcohol consumption and misleading packaging is a step in the right direction, reflecting a broader European concern about the well-being of young people. This should serve as a reminder that while alcohol is a part of many European cultures, its dangers – especially for children – must not be overlooked.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our
Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Part-time writer, wife, and mother from the UK. Living an enjoyable life in southern Spain.
Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE!
Covering the Almeria, Axarquia, Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, Costa del Sol , Costa Calida, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home.
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close.
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Close
