Tuesday, 24 March 2026
The Warsaw City Council has approved the expansion of night-time restrictions on retail alcohol sales, extending measures previously tested at district level to a broader area of the city.
Under the regulation, off-premise alcohol sales are restricted between 22:00 and 06:00, in line with provisions available to municipalities under Polish law. The move follows a pilot programme conducted in selected districts, where local authorities assessed the potential impact of limiting late-night availability.
According to city officials, the pilot was associated with a decline in the number of police and municipal guard interventions, with reductions reported both during daytime and night-time hours. However, detailed data from the trial has not been widely published, and the results have been presented primarily through municipal communications.
The trial period, which took place over the winter months, has prompted some observers to note that seasonal factors may have influenced the recorded outcomes. Lower levels of outdoor activity during this period can affect patterns of public behaviour, making it more difficult to isolate the direct impact of the restrictions.
Warsaw’s decision reflects a broader trend across Poland, where municipalities have increasingly introduced limits on late-night alcohol sales in an effort to address public order concerns. Similar measures have been implemented in a number of cities, typically targeting off-premise sales rather than consumption in licensed venues such as bars and restaurants.
While local authorities point to early indications of reduced disturbances, the longer-term effects of the policy remain to be seen. The expansion of the restrictions to a wider urban area is expected to provide a clearer basis for evaluating their impact on public safety, retail activity and consumer behaviour over time.
Source: WEI (Warsaw Enterprise Institute)
