Outrage over Polish vodka’s ‘martial law’ Facebook ad

Polish vodka brand Zytnia has come under fire after a picture of a person shot in the head during an anti-communist protest was used in a Facebook advertising campaign.

Polish vodka brand Zyntia has apologised for its most recent Facebook advert

Four people can be seen carrying a fifth man in the black and white photo, which was accompanied by a caption mentioning The Hangover film and suggested the apparently unconscious man was intoxicated with Zyntia.

According to reports by Radio Poland, the caption under the picture read: “When the stag night gets out of control. Is it Zytnia’s fault?”

However, the advert was quickly removed from Facebook after outraged users hit back at the picture, which in reality depicts a victim of communist repressions against Solidarity – a Polish non-governmental trade union – from 1982.

The man being carried was hit in the head by a militia bullet during a protest and subsequently died a few days later.

Polmos Bielsko-Biala, the producer of Extra Zytnia vodka, issued an apology this week and has allegedly fired the PR firm, Project Sp, which was in charge of the brand’s Facebook page.