Poland faces declining alcohol tax revenue and new advertising bans

Recent Eurostat data indicates a shift in alcohol consumption patterns in Poland. Only 0.5% of respondents report daily drinking, a figure significantly lower than the EU average of 4.8%. Approximately 35% of Poles report not consuming alcohol in the past year, while 44.6% consume it less than once a month.

This trend has impacted state finances. In the first half of 2026, excise tax revenue from spirits fell to approximately 3.9 billion PLN, down from 4.5 billion PLN the previous year—a decrease of over 13%. Beer excise revenue also saw a slight decline. While lower tax revenue is typically negative for the budget, experts suggest the National Health Fund (NFZ) may benefit from reduced long-term costs associated with treating alcohol-related illnesses and injuries.

Simultaneously, legislative efforts are underway to regulate alcohol marketing. A project by the Lewica and Polska 2050 parties, recently accepted by the Sejm Health Committee, proposes a total ban on alcohol advertising and promotion. Notably, this includes a ban on advertising non-alcoholic beer products under a beer brand, with potential fines of up to 1 million PLN. Critics have pointed out inconsistencies in the proposal, as it targets 0.0% alcohol products while failing to implement a ban on the sale of small, high-strength vodka bottles (known as ‘małpki’), which the committee rejected.