Poland considers nationwide nighttime alcohol sales restrictions

Legislative work is underway in the Sejm to potentially implement a nationwide restriction on nighttime alcohol sales in Poland. According to Wioleta Tomczak, deputy chair of the Health Committee, there is a cross-party consensus regarding the proposal, which aims to limit the sale of alcohol for takeaway in shops and gas stations during late-night hours. The proposed regulations are not a total prohibition, as restaurants, bars, and pubs would be treated differently.

Several Polish cities have already implemented local restrictions with measurable results in public order. In Kraków, where nighttime takeaway sales were restricted, police interventions related to alcohol consumption dropped by nearly 70% by May 2026. Wrocław reported a 20% decrease in municipal guard reports regarding public intoxication and noise disturbances after expanding restrictions citywide. In Katowice, police warnings related to intoxication fell by 54% following local restrictions, and Gdańsk also saw a significant reduction in police interventions after implementing similar measures in its city center.