Hungarian government considers restricting nighttime alcohol sales in tobacco shops

The Hungarian government is considering granting municipalities the authority to regulate the nighttime operations of national tobacco shops. This initiative follows a joint request from mayors in several Budapest districts, including Ferencváros, Erzsébetváros, Józsefváros, Terézváros, and Angyalföld.

Currently, while commercial laws allow local governments to regulate shop hours between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, national tobacco shops are governed by specific national regulations that limit local jurisdiction. The mayors argue that restricting alcohol sales in these outlets during late-night hours is necessary to combat issues such as public intoxication, noise, littering, aggressive behavior, and a general decline in public safety and security.

The proposed regulatory model does not necessarily aim to close the shops entirely at night, but rather to prohibit the sale of alcohol during those hours. While the Ministry of Interior supports the preparation of this legislative proposal, associations of tobacco shop owners have expressed concerns that such regulations could lead to a fragmented supply network in the long term.