Teen artists tackle binge drinking in 'Colorful, Not Blue' contest

The 'Colorful, Not Blue' campaign has once again highlighted young talent in North Rhine-Westphalia. A poster contest against binge drinking saw thousands of students submit creative designs under the slogan 'Colorful, Not Blue'. DAK-Gesundheit organised the competition, drawing 6,000 entries from across Germany. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Lina Rudolf (16) from Bocholt took first place, while Mariam Elmasry (16) from Mönchengladbach secured second. Kevin Willms (15), also from Bocholt, finished third. Antonia Voß (13) from Essen and Leonie Schmidt (14) from Wuppertal received the 'Young Talent' special prize.

The campaign, running since 2010, has engaged over 149,000 students so far. Its 17th edition will take place in 2026. The national winners for that year will be chosen by a federal jury in Berlin on 2 June.

Despite progress, binge drinking remains a concern. In 2024, 1,799 children and adolescents in the region needed hospital treatment for acute alcohol poisoning. However, the number of young binge drinkers has been falling in recent years. The contest aims to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol misuse among youth. The winners will be recognised for their contributions to this ongoing effort. The campaign continues to grow, with more students joining each year.