Polish parliament approves ban on nighttime alcohol sales in shops

The proposed national ban targets nighttime alcohol sales in shops, not every form of drinking. It would prohibit buying alcohol for consumption elsewhere between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. across Poland. This matters because the measure aims to reduce nighttime disorder and alcohol-related harm.

Local authorities could make the restricted period longer, beginning at 9 p.m. and ending at 9 a.m. The ban would cover off-premises purchases, such as alcohol bought from shops. Bars, clubs, and restaurants would still be allowed to sell alcohol for consumption on their premises under existing arrangements.

The law was approved by 400 of 433 Sejm members present. It still needs Senate consideration and presidential action. If approved, the restrictions would create a nationwide baseline while allowing municipalities to impose even stricter nighttime hours.

Almost 200 Polish municipalities have already introduced local bans on nighttime alcohol sales. They include major cities such as Warsaw and Kraków. These existing measures show that restrictions are already being used in many parts of the country, but rules currently vary by municipality.

The proposed law would establish a national rule for shop sales intended for off-premises consumption. The standard prohibited period would run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Local authorities could extend it further, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. This combines a common national floor with room for stricter local policies.

The measure would therefore affect the entire country rather than only selected municipalities. It was approved by 400 of 433 Sejm members present. The Senate can suggest amendments, and the president must still decide whether to sign, veto, or refer it to the constitutional court.

The proposed law goes beyond nighttime shop sales. It would completely prohibit advertising and promoting alcoholic drinks. Packaging would need warnings about alcohol’s harmful effects on pregnant women and minors. These changes would reduce promotional exposure and make health risks more visible at the point of purchase.

The cost of licences would rise from 525 to 1,050 zloty for drinks containing up to 18% alcohol. For stronger drinks, the fee would increase from 2,100 to 4,200 zloty. Shop staff would also face tougher requirements to check a buyer’s age when they suspect the customer may be underage.

Violating the advertising ban could lead to a fine of up to 1 million zloty, or €228,400. Together, the measures target promotion, packaging, retail access, and seller responsibilities rather than relying on one restriction alone.

The article reports a sharp fall in nighttime police interventions after local alcohol-sales restrictions. In Kraków, interventions decreased by nearly 50% during the first six months after the city introduced its restrictions in 2023. Other cities reported similar improvements.

The key mechanism is reduced nighttime availability from shops. When people cannot buy alcohol for off-premises drinking during restricted hours, opportunities for late-night consumption in public or residential areas are reduced. The restrictions do not stop bars, clubs, or restaurants from serving alcohol on their premises.

These figures are local results, not a guarantee that every place will see the same change. Still, they provide the main evidence cited in support of national action. With almost 200 municipalities already using local bans, the proposed law would apply this approach across Poland, while allowing cities to choose longer restricted hours.

The bill first passed the Sejm, Poland’s lower and more powerful parliamentary chamber, with 400 of 433 members present voting in favour. It now moves to the Senate, the upper house. This is the next parliamentary stage before the legislation can reach the president.

The Senate may suggest amendments, but the article states that it can only delay the bill, not block its passage. Once parliament has finally approved it, the measure goes to President Karol Nawrocki. His options are to sign the bill, veto it, or send it to the constitutional court for assessment.

Nawrocki is aligned with the right-wing opposition and has vetoed a record number of bills. However, the alcohol measure received support from the largest opposition groups, Law and Justice and Development Plus, as well as the governing coalition. The article therefore describes presidential approval as likely, though not certain.

The proposed restriction distinguishes between where alcohol is consumed. Shops would be barred from selling alcohol for off-premises consumption between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Bars, clubs, and restaurants could continue selling alcohol for customers to drink on site.

This distinction targets the form of nighttime availability most directly covered by the bill: alcohol bought from a shop and taken elsewhere. It does not create a general nighttime ban on drinking or close hospitality businesses. Local authorities could still extend the shop-sales restriction to 9 p.m. through 9 a.m.

The article does not give a separate explanation from lawmakers for this different treatment. It does report that Kraków saw nearly 50% fewer nighttime police interventions after local restrictions began, while bars and restaurants remained able to serve customers. The national measure therefore limits retail access while preserving existing on-premises sales.

Alcohol policy can influence drinking behavior by changing how easily alcohol is obtained, how prominently it is promoted, and how costly or restricted sales become. The proposed law combines these approaches. It would limit nighttime shop access, ban advertising, add packaging warnings, raise licence fees, and strengthen age checks.

The article gives a concrete local example. Kraków recorded nearly 50% fewer nighttime police interventions during the first six months of its 2023 restrictions. The article does not separately measure which policy mechanism produced that result, so the figure shows an observed change rather than proving one single cause.

National consumption has recently fallen. In 2025, average beer consumption was 81.7 litres, down 4.9% in one year and 18.7% from 2018. Spirits and liqueurs fell 5.9% to 3.2 litres per person. Yet 2025 levels remained above 2005 levels for beer and spirits.