The Sejm cocktail bar’s new price list, effective August 18, has lifted beer costs by up to 84 % and spirits by up to 60 %, sparking calls for a complete ban on alcohol in the parliamentary building.
New Prices Effective from August 18
The Sejm cocktail bar—known as the “bar behind the fence”—introduced a revised price schedule on August 18. Beer now ranges from 11 zl to 26 zl, up from 8 zl to 14 zl. The steepest increase is 84 % for the most expensive beer; the cheapest rose 40 %. Wine prices rose from 9 zl to 10.55 zl per glass. Only 4‑cl spirits now cost 12 zl to 49 zl, compared with 7 zl to 19 zl previously.
According to the Sejm Chancellery, alcohol sales are not intended to generate profit; prices are set to cover purchase costs and keep the operation neutral for the budget and taxpayers. It is unclear whether the new, higher prices incorporate a profit margin.
Survey Indicates Strong Support for an Alcohol Ban
A CATI survey conducted on October 13–14, 2025, of 1001 adults above 18 found that 81 % of respondents say the sale of alcohol in parliamentary buildings should be entirely prohibited. Only 14 % are opposed, and 5 % have no opinion.
MPs Clash Over Ban Proposals
Party Together MP Adrian Zandberg has called for an absolute ban on alcohol sales in the parliamentary building, arguing that the presence of drinking erodes the dignity of decision‑making for millions of people.
In contrast, MP Sławomir Mentzen argues that evening visits to the “bar behind the fence” foster inter‑party dialogue and a more human atmosphere; he claims that banning alcohol would reduce informal contacts between MPs.
