“Majówka” refers to the initial days of May in Poland, marked by the celebration of two state holidays. May 1st commemorates Labor Day, also known as the International Day of Solidarity of Workers, while May 3rd is Constitution Day. Although May 2nd is not officially recognized as a state holiday and is not designated as a day off from work, many Poles opt to take the day off.
According to a recent survey conducted by UCE Research and Offerista Group, a staggering 88.7% of Poles who partake in the May holidays intend to purchase alcohol for the occasion. Even more alarming is the revelation that nearly half of these individuals (49.4%) anticipate spending between 30% and 50% of their budget on alcoholic beverages alone.
Professor Mariusz Jędrzejko, a renowned addiction therapist, expressed deep concern over this cultural phenomenon in his interview with Polish commercial broadcaster Polsat News. He highlighted the normalization of alcohol consumption in Poland, stating that
“alcohol has become a permanent fixture in our culture. We struggle to relax, socialize, or have fun without it.” This sentiment is echoed by the increasing number of young people turning to high-alcohol content drinks, leading Prof. Jędrzejko to assess that “Poles are becoming a nation of alcoholics.”
Over the past two decades,
the average Pole’s annual alcohol consumption has risen by more than 30%, reaching an alarming 10 liters of pure alcohol per person. This upward trend is exacerbated by the widespread misconception that alternative alcoholic beverages, such as whiskey, are somehow less detrimental than traditional choices like vodka. The professor dispelled this notion, asserting, “Whiskey is nothing but foreign vodka.”
Moreover, while beer consumption has traditionally been prominent in Poland, recent years have witnessed a shift towards stronger brews, diverging from the global trend of favoring lighter options. Prof. Jędrzejko attributes this shift to a cultural inclination towards potent beverages that induce a quicker and more intense effect.
He also warned that alcohol stands as the primary carcinogen, attributing it to the highest surge in cancer cases in Poland.
Early initiation
The ramifications of Poland’s alcohol culture extend beyond mere social habits.
Jędrzejko noted a concerning trend of early alcohol initiation among Polish youth, with some children as young as 8 or 9 years old experimenting with alcohol. This early exposure has dire consequences, as evidenced by the fact that
half of Polish 15-year-olds have reported instances of intoxication.
In response to the pervasive availability of alcohol, Prof. Jędrzejko advocated for regulatory measures to curb access and deter excessive consumption.
He expressed support for initiatives such as banning the sale of alcohol at gas stations, emphasizing the need to “prioritize fueling vehicles over fueling addiction”. Additionally, he proposed implementing excise taxes based on alcohol content as a means of discouraging the consumption of high-proof beverages.
