Polish capital bans nighttime alcohol sales

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WARSAW — Warsaw's city council on Thursday voted almost unanimously to ban night-time alcohol sales in the capital of Poland, which ranks among the EU countries with the highest drinking-related mortality rates.

It is the latest in a series of bans in Polish cities that have proved popular with the public and have been followed by a fall in arrests for alcohol-related offences.

The new ban follows pilot programs in two Warsaw districts -- including the city centre -- where alcohol in shops and gas stations were banned from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.

"We are responding to a real problem, namely noise, public disturbances, interventions by services, and sleepless nights for residents," said Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Night-time alcohol sales restrictions have been growing in popularity across Poland, with around 180 municipalities introducing controls between 2018 and 2024.

Many of the country's largest cities, including tourist hotspot Krakow (southern Poland), Wroclaw, Szczecin and Lodz, have implemented such measures.

Krakow in particular noted a marked reduction in night-time disturbances after implementing night-time bans. In 2025, police intervened 52 times for excessive alcohol consumption there, significantly down on 2022 -- a year before the ban was put into place -- when they had to act 350 times.

According to Eurostat data from 2022, Poland was second in the EU for alcohol-related deaths, behind only Slovakia.

Poland's Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) found that 74 percent of Poles said they most often drank alcohol at home, compared to only nine percent in bars.

Provided the Warsaw ban is not challenged by the regional government, it will come into force on June 1.

Businesses that refuse to comply with the new regulations risk fines or the loss of their liquor licences.

Night-time alcohol sales will still be permitted in restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and duty-free shops at the Warsaw Chopin Airport.