The Warsaw city council has voted almost unanimously to ban nighttime alcohol sales in the Polish capital, according to reports. The measure, which will take effect on June 1, 2026, prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages in stores between 10 PM and 6 AM.
The decision follows a successful pilot project in two of Warsaw's districts, where similar restrictions reportedly led to fewer arrests for alcohol-related crimes. Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski stated that the ban addresses 'a real problem - namely noise, disturbances, interventions by authorities, and sleepless nights for residents.'
a real problem - namely noise, disturbances, interventions by authorities, and sleepless nights for residents.
Several other major Polish cities, including Kraków and Wrocław, have already implemented similar nighttime alcohol sales restrictions. The move comes as Poland continues to grapple with alcohol-related issues, having recorded the second-highest number of alcohol-related deaths in the European Union in 2022.