The amendment to the Act on Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism introduces a nationwide ban on alcohol sales between 22:00 and 6:00 and a ban on beer advertising. However, the Senate added exemptions, which the Sejm must still decide on.
Sales ban from 22:00 to 6:00
The law provides for a nationwide ban on alcohol sales between 22:00 and 6:00. It will not cover the restaurant sector. Municipalities will be entitled to extend the ban to 21:00–22:00 or 6:00–9:00. The ban also applies to petrol stations. Sellers will be obliged to verify the age of buyers in case of doubt, and if verification is not possible, they must refuse the sale.
The Sejm passed the amendment on 8 October. 400 MPs voted in favour, 29 against, and 4 abstained.
End of beer advertising and promotions
Beer is currently the only alcoholic drink that may be advertised in Poland. The amendment removes this exception and introduces a complete ban on advertising alcoholic beverages. Breaching it is punishable by a fine of PLN 30,000 to PLN 1 million or restriction of liberty. Price promotions, e.g. discounts and bundles, are also to be prohibited.
What the Senate changed
The Senate considered the law on 6 November and adopted it unanimously with amendments. The changes include, among others:
- advertising of non-alcoholic beer remains permitted — the amendment passed by a margin of one vote (46 for, 45 against),
- the night-time sales ban will not cover airport zones,
- alcohol advertising will be permitted in wholesale outlets, catering establishments and shops selling only alcohol,
- craft breweries will be able to organise educational events and culinary tourism.
Senators, however, rejected the amendment banning home delivery of alcohol purchased online. Amendments restricting sales of strong spirits in containers up to 300 ml, so-called “small bottles” (37 votes for, 52 against), also failed. We described the details of the vote in an article on how a single vote decided the fate of 0% beer.
A representative of the Ministry of Health stated in the Senate that some of the amendments “are exceptionally negative in nature,” and the GrowSPACE foundation appealed for their rejection.
Entry into force
The Senate moved the start date of the provisions from 1 January to 1 June 2027. The law now returns to the Sejm, which will decide which amendments to accept and which to reject. It will then go to the President for signature.
