Beer a luxury item? Half of Poles think it is too expensive

More than half of Poles believe that beer in Poland is expensive, and as many as two-thirds have noticed an increase in its prices in the last twelve months. According to the latest research carried out on the Ariadna panel on behalf of ZPPP Browary Polskie, every third consumer reaches for cheaper alcoholic beverages or limits the purchase of beer due to its high price.

A survey by the Ariadna National Research Panel from November shows that 51% of respondents assess beer prices as high or very high. Only 5% describe them as too low.

“As many as 90 percent of beer consumers consider its current prices to be appropriate or even too high. This is a signal that subsequent customers, after the increases, will be ready to give up the purchase or switch to another, cheaper type of alcohol,” comments Bartłomiej Morzycki, general director of the Association of Brewing Industry Employers, Browary Polskie.

As many as 68% of beer drinkers noticed price increases during the year. Since 2019, its price has increased by 40%, mainly due to inflation and new tax burdens.

“Further increases resulting from, among others, fiscal policy or other financial burdens on the brewing industry may have far-reaching effects, including the need to further reduce production, which will affect the entire value chain of the industry,” warns Morzycki.

An expensive golden drink being replaced by cheaper alcohols

Beer prices clearly influence consumer choices. 24% of respondents admitted that they did not buy beer because of its high price, and instead chose alcohol that was more affordable. What is disturbing is that in the group of young adults (18-24 years old), as many as 44% replaced beer with cheaper alcohol.

Every third Pole also declares a general reduction in the consumption of alcoholic beer due to its price.

“It turns out that statistical calculations regarding the so-called economic availability of beer are different from reality. Consumers could theoretically buy more, but rising prices make them buy less. The Ariadna panel study confirmed this. We can also see it in sales results – this year will probably end with the largest decline in the beer market since 1989.” – emphasizes Morzycki.

Research methodology

Research for ZPPP Browary Polskie on the Ariadna panel (www.panelariadna.pl). Nationwide, random quota sample N=1095 people. Sample selection in total amounts for gender, age and size of town and marginal for education and voivodeship according to representation in the population of Poles aged 18 and over. CAWI method. Completion date: November 21-24, 2025.

Information source: ZPPP Browary Polskie

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