The Sejm has passed an amendment to the Act on Sobriety and Alcohol Abuse Prevention, which bans volume-based alcohol promotions such as “6+6” or “12 for the price of 6”. The new rules are to take effect on 1 January 2027, provided they pass through the Senate and receive the president’s signature.
The vote took place late on the evening of Thursday, 8 October. 400 MPs voted in favour of the amendment, 29 against, and 4 abstained. The bill was based on a combination of proposals from the Left and Poland 2050, and the Left’s draft formed the basis for further work in the Health Committee.
The end of “buy a few, get the rest cheaper”
The Act introduces a total ban on advertising and promotion of all alcoholic beverages, including beer. Until now, beer could be advertised between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and this exception will disappear. Promotion is understood to include, among other things, public consumption of alcohol and deals such as “buy several bottles, get the next one free or cheaper”. “6+6” and “12 for the price of 6” offers are therefore set to disappear from flyers and shelves. Prize draws that encourage alcohol purchases will also be prohibited.
Breaking the ban may result in a fine of PLN 30,000 to PLN 1 million, or a restriction of liberty. The rules on sponsorship remain unchanged: alcohol-related companies will still be able to support events and display their name or logo. Provisions facilitating the promotion of Polish winemaking are also to be retained.
Night-time prohibition and other changes
The amendment introduces a nationwide ban on off-premises alcohol sales between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. It covers shops and petrol stations, but does not apply to restaurants, bars, hotels or airports. Municipal councils will additionally be able to restrict sales between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., and between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
The Act also raises fees for alcohol sales licences, introduces an obligation to check the age of buyers when in doubt, and requires health warnings on packaging. Small formats of up to 300 ml are to be offered only in glass or metal packaging. The amendments adopted also allow the sale of Polish wine at a distance. 37 amendments were submitted to the bill, and some of them were adopted.
What happens next
The Act will now go to the Senate and, after its decision, to President Karol Nawrocki, who may sign it or veto it. At the time of publication, no date for Senate work had been given and the Chancellery of the President had not taken a position. With such a broad majority in the Sejm, a veto would be difficult to sustain, as overriding a veto requires 3/5 of the votes, but the Sejm vote does not determine the president’s decision.
What it means for customers
If the rules take effect on the planned date, from 1 January 2027 evening alcohol purchases at a shop or petrol station after 10:00 p.m. will be impossible across Poland, and in some municipalities even after 9:00 p.m. Retail chains will not be able to advertise “6+6” sets or other volume discounts, so beer prices in these deals will stop being reduced. You will still be able to buy beer, wine and vodka in bars and restaurants after 10:00 p.m.
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