A ‘Beer Party’ in Austria is polling at 12 per cent ahead of the Vienna state election.
Founded by Dominik Wlazny (known by his stage name of Marco Pogo) in 2015, the party is looking to woo voters with promises of a beer fountain in the capital city and an allocation of one barrel of beer per household per month.
They will also slap a 50 per cent tax on Radlers – beer crafted with juice – and launch a Radler buyback programme that allows punters to exchange Radler beers with “real beer”.
Although the party started out as a joke, it has since morphed into something more serious – to the point where they are now on track to be the third biggest party in the Vienna elections.
Pogo, a comedian, doctor, brewer and musician, says he set up the party after being inspired by the song Bierpartei, performed by his punk band Turbobier, which includes the lyric: “If you like to be fat and drink a lot every day, then vote for us now, the Beer Party, we’ll abolish the alcohol tax”.
The party’s website notes that “nobody can really remember the exact events of that day”.
As well as the boozy fountain in the Austrian capital, the party’s drinks-themed proposals include (but are not limited to) the creation of a gastronomy network to encourage better relations between local restauranteurs and local politics, the abolition of mandatory closing times for bars and restaurants and a “live and let” philosophy, except (of course) for Radler drinkers.
There are some serious ambitions beyond the beer too.
The party has advocated for investment in Vienna’s public transport and sports facilities and has adopted a progressive stance on trans rights and the environment.
They have also called for Ukranian refugees to be safely housed in the country.
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