Poland proposes sweeping excise tax reforms affecting alcohol and fuels

Poland’s Ministry of Finance has drafted a law to raise excise duties on alcoholic drinks, with a 15% increase slated for 2027. The proposal lifts the tax on ethyl alcohol from 8,391 zł to 9,190 zł per hectolitre, later to 10,109 zł, and raises rates on beer, wine, fermented beverages, cider and perry. Industry groups warn the hikes could cut beer sales by about 5%, trigger brewery closures and reduce demand for agricultural raw materials such as grain, potatoes and hops.

In the same legislative package, the ministry outlines 16 amendments covering a broader range of excise‑tax matters. Proposed changes include allowing deduction of excise on destroyed expired alcohol, extending exemption for drone fuel, adjusting the tax on additives for engine fuels, modifying the reduced‑rate rules for small cider producers, and introducing a banderole surcharge on cigarettes and tobacco. The draft also seeks to simplify tax‑warehouse thresholds, relax electronic reporting requirements for zero‑rate fuel, and broaden zero‑rate eligibility for biogas, hydrogen and biogas‑derived products.

Both the Polish Beer Brewers Association and the Ministry of Agriculture have voiced criticism, arguing the measures could depress legal consumption, hurt production, and weaken fiscal stability across the supply chain.