Starting June 1, Warsaw will enforce a citywide prohibition on retail alcohol sales between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, following successful pilot programs in two districts that showed significant decreases in public disturbances.
Citywide Restrictions and Exceptions
Beginning June 1, a nighttime ban on alcohol sales in shops and gas stations will take effect throughout Warsaw. The prohibition applies from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM daily, with the exception of duty-free shops at Chopin Airport. On Mondays, the restriction begins at midnight.
Results of the Pilot Program
The ban is part of Warsaw’s “Safe Night” program, which began as a pilot in the Śródmieście and Praga-Północ districts on November 1, 2025. City Secretary Maciej Fijałkowski reported that interventions by municipal guards dropped by 23.7 percent in these areas compared to districts without the ban, where incidents fell by only 11.1 percent.
Data from the Capital Police Headquarters shows an even sharper decline, with a 37 percent reduction in interventions and a 43 percent drop in offenses related to alcohol education and sobriety laws. However, some increases in interventions were noted in neighboring districts such as Praga-Południe, Targówek, and Wola.
Public Awareness and Support
City surveys conducted in January indicate that 69 percent of residents are now aware of the program, up from 60 percent in October. Support for the nighttime prohibition stands at 58 percent citywide, with approval ratings reaching 68 percent in Śródmieście and 63 percent in Praga-Północ.
Legislative Origins
The push for the ban originated from the “Miasto Jest Nasze” movement. Although Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski initially opposed the measure, he later revised his position, eventually proposing the pilot program that preceded the current citywide rollout.
Alcohol Prohibitions Nationwide
Over 200 Polish municipalities have implemented similar restrictions on retail alcohol sales. Cities such as Krakow, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, and Szczecin enforce citywide night bans, while others like Poznań, Wrocław, and Katowice limit sales only in city centers. Lublin, Ełk, Opole, and Koło also adopted these measures earlier this year.