Warsaw approves pilot night-time alcohol ban in two districts
City councillors in Warsaw have approved a pilot ban on the sale of alcohol at night in two districts of the Polish capital, aiming to curb alcohol-related problems.
In Poland, which has long struggled with alcohol abuse, strong spirits are available even at petrol stations, contributing to traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers. The photo above shows one such station in Warsaw, where city councillors on 2 October approved a pilot night-time alcohol ban starting at 10 p.m. in 2 districts. PAP/Leszek Szymański
In Poland, where alcohol abuse has long been a public concern, strong spirits are available around the clock, including at petrol stations, contributing to traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers.
Many cities, including Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań, Bydgoszcz, Rzeszów, Katowice, and Kielce, have introduced restrictions on alcohol sales, and Warsaw is now set to join them.
Bydgoszcz, a Polish city shown in the photo above, has a surprisingly high number of shops selling strong spirits, some operating 24 hours a day, roughly equal to the total number of such stores in Norway, a country of 5,5 million where alcohol sales are tightly controlled and never available around the clock.Photo: PAP/Tytus Żmijewski
Warsaw council backs trial night-time alcohol restrictions
On 2 October, councillors approved a pilot night-time alcohol ban in Śródmieście, in the city centre, and Praga-Północ, in the north-eastern part of Warsaw.
The ban will start at 10 p.m., an hour earlier than previously proposed, and will remain in effect until 6 a.m., covering shops and petrol stations.
The decision was taken during an extraordinary city council session called at the request of Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.
It modifies earlier resolutions by shortening the implementation period from three months to 14 days and adjusting the hours of the night-time ban.
Warsaw mayor plans city-wide night-time alcohol ban
Trzaskowski has said that next spring he plans to propose extending the night-time alcohol ban across all of Warsaw from 1 June 2026, taking into account the results of the pilot programme in the two districts where alcohol-related problems are most acute.
Pilot programme follows turbulent debate
The pilot measures followed a turbulent debate in the city council. Two weeks earlier, Trzaskowski unexpectedly withdrew a proposal to introduce a city-wide ban, and councillors rejected a rival plan from opposition members.
After the pilot vote, Deputy Mayor Jacek Wiśnicki, who had supported Trzaskowski’s approach, resigned.
Plans to extend night-time alcohol ban in Warsaw delayed by absent councillors
According to Miasto Jest Nasze (The City is Ours), a Warsaw-based civic association promoting local governance and social initiatives, councillors had also wanted to introduce restrictions in the neighbouring district of Praga-Południe.
However, the planned session was cancelled due to a lack of quorum and the absence of many councillors, including most from the ruling Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska) in the district and conservative members of the Law and Justice party (PiS).
(mp)
Source: IAR/PR24/Facebook.com/Miasto jest Nasze/X/@trzaskowski_
Radio Poland
