Warsaw is set to become the latest European capital to restrict late-night alcohol sales, with a citywide ban taking effect from 1 June. The new rules, part of the Safe Night programme, prohibit the sale of alcohol in shops, kiosks, and petrol stations between 10pm and 6am. Restaurants, bars, and the duty-free zone at Warsaw Chopin Airport are exempt.
Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who had long resisted such restrictions, said the decision followed years of debate. “I am not a supporter of restrictions, but after years of debate I have been persuaded that this could have a positive impact on this city,” he told reporters.
Pilot scheme showed results
The city council points to a pilot scheme conducted in the central district of Śródmieście and the Praga-Północ neighbourhood. Data from the Municipal Guard and police show a clear drop in night-time interventions in those areas. The ban is also intended to curb so-called “alcohol tourism” — people wandering the city in search of 24-hour outlets.
Public consultations held in 2024, involving nearly 9,000 residents, found 81% in favour of the ban. Among supporters, 97% wanted it applied citywide rather than in selected districts.
In street interviews, many Varsovians voiced optimism. “Thanks to this, it will be much calmer,” an older woman said. Some recalled that similar restrictions existed during the communist era, when alcohol was sold only between 1pm and 10pm from autumn 1982 until November 1990. “They used to sell alcohol from 1 pm to 10 pm and everyone was happy. I think it is a very good idea,” an elderly resident noted.
Others drew comparisons with other European countries. “My husband and I often go to Sweden, where it works well, and I think this is a good time to stop sales,” a young woman said.
Critics warn of black market
Not everyone is convinced. Younger residents, in particular, oppose the measure. “If there was this prohibition, I would have to be sober – I don’t like that idea,” said a group of young men. “Prohibition in general, no matter what time it is. Definitely no to prohibition.”
Concerns about illegal alcohol trading also surfaced. “With prohibition there is always some sort of black market,” a pensioner told reporters. “There is always an old lady selling bottles out of her window, and it has been like that for ages. But I am very much in favour of prohibition, because it will certainly be curbed and there will definitely be fewer incidents and rows.”
The ban does not extend to drinking alcohol on the Vistula boulevards, where consumption is currently allowed as an exception to a 2018 citywide ban on public drinking. Most residents oppose introducing a ban there. “I myself have spent a lot of time there with friends. Maybe not so much now, but I think there should be spaces where young people can sit and relax,” one woman said.
Some residents argue the problem is not alcohol itself but behaviour. “The fact that I don’t drink doesn’t mean others shouldn’t. I’m just saying everything should be done in moderation and in a sensible way. You throw bottles in the bin or, if need be, take them to a recycling point – you don’t smash them in the middle of the boulevard so that you can neither sit nor stand there,” another resident said.
Warsaw police confirm a reduction in interventions in the pilot districts and remind retailers that breaching the ban can lead to loss of their alcohol licence under the Act on Counteracting Alcoholism and Promoting Sobriety.
The move aligns with broader European trends. In recent years, cities such as Stockholm and Oslo have maintained strict alcohol sales hours, while others have debated similar restrictions. For Warsaw, the ban represents a significant shift in its approach to night-time public order.
