Warsaw council votes for night alcohol ban starting June 1, amid nationwide debate on accessibility.
Warsaw Council Votes for Night Ban
On March 12, Warsaw city councilors voted to introduce a night prohibition on alcohol sales. The ban will apply from 22:00 to 06:00 in shops and gas stations. The regulations are set to take effect on June 1, pending potential objections from the voivode.
Cities Implement Night Alcohol Bans
Over the past year, many other municipalities have adopted regulations prohibiting night alcohol sales. Bans already exist in cities like Gdańsk, Wrocław, and Kraków. An October Gazeta.pl survey found that nearly 70% of Poles believe alcohol is too easily accessible in the country.
Kierwiński Defers to Authorities on National Ban
Asked if a nationwide night prohibition should be implemented, MSWiA head Marcin Kierwiński stated it depends on police statistics and recommendations. He emphasized it is not a political recommendation but a matter for the services, adding he will listen to police input. Two legislative bills regarding this are currently in parliament.
Warsaw Pilot Program Shows Success
Preliminary data from February indicates success for Warsaw’s night alcohol sales ban. In the two pilot districts, daily municipal interventions decreased by 10%, and night interventions fell by 15% compared to the previous year. Overall interventions dropped by 23.7%. Police interventions decreased by 37%, and alcohol-related offenses fell by 42.9%.
Parliamentary Bills Under Consideration
According to Minister Kierwiński, two bills proposing nationwide night alcohol sales bans and 24-hour bans at gas stations, submitted by Poland 2050 and The Left, are currently in the Sejm’s Health Committee. Their timeline and form for a full parliamentary vote remain unspecified.
