Warsaw joins other Polish cities in banning off-premise alcohol sales from 10pm to 6am, aiming to reduce noise and alcohol-related incidents after successful pilot programmes.
WARSAW: The city council has voted to ban the sale of alcohol from shops and petrol stations between 10pm and 6am.
Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski stated the move was a direct response to persistent problems of noise, public disturbances, and sleepless nights for residents.
The decision follows successful pilot programmes in two districts, including the city centre, which demonstrated a reduction in alcohol-related incidents.
Poland has seen a growing trend of such restrictions, with around 180 municipalities introducing controls between 2018 and 2024.
Major cities like Krakow, Wroclaw, Szczecin, and Lodz have already implemented similar night-time sales bans.
Krakow reported a dramatic fall in police interventions, from 350 in 2022 to just 52 in 2025 following its ban.
According to 2022 Eurostat data, Poland has the second-highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in the European Union, trailing only Slovakia.
A national survey found that 74% of Poles most often consume alcohol at home, compared to just 9% who drink in bars.
Provided it is not challenged by regional authorities, the Warsaw ban is scheduled to come into force on June 1.
Businesses that violate the new rules face potential fines or the revocation of their liquor licences.
The restriction does not apply to restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, or duty-free shops at Warsaw Chopin Airport.
