Polish farmers propose 10% alcohol excise cut to counter government tax hike

Counter-proposal to the excise increase

On 6 October 2026, Polish agricultural unions led by the OPZZ of Farmers and Agricultural Organizations presented a draft bill before the Sejm proposing a 10% cut to the excise tax on ethyl alcohol. Union representatives delivered letters with the draft to Marshal of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Deputy Marshal Piotr Zgorzelski. Because agricultural organizations lack formal legislative initiative rights, the groups are seeking parliamentary sponsors to introduce the text as a private deputies' bill. Union chairman Sławomir Izdebski announced that appeals will also go to the prime minister and parliamentary party heads.

The initiative directly responds to the government draft adopted on 22 September 2026, which raises the excise tax on ethyl alcohol from 8,811 PLN to 10,109 PLN per hectolitre of 100% alcohol starting in 2027. The government justified the planned increase as a public health measure intended to reduce the price accessibility of alcohol and limit social harms. Agricultural groups described the fiscal justification as politically contradictory while broader regulatory tools remain unaddressed.

Criticisms of alcohol policy and stalled legislation

Union leaders argued that fiscal increases alone fail to improve public health or secure projected state budget revenues during periods of rising deficits. They pointed out that Poland continues to allow advertising for specific types of alcoholic beverages and maintains no legal restrictions on multi-pack volume promotions. Agricultural representatives claimed that raising excise rates while allowing marketing incentives creates an inconsistent policy framework.

It is not enough to talk about health protection when raising taxes. One must also be consistent when concrete regulatory solutions are on the table.

The organizations specifically questioned the suspension of parliamentary work on amendments to the Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism. The second reading of those amendments took place on 15 September 2026, followed by Health Committee review of revisions on 17 September 2026. On 18 September 2026, the item was removed from the Sejm agenda, a move the unions attributed to a request by the Polish People's Party parliamentary club. Farmers requested an official explanation for halting marketing restrictions while advancing tax hikes under public health arguments.

Impact on domestic distilleries and agriculture

The agricultural sector warned that alcohol excise taxes affect the entire production chain rather than finished consumer products alone. Domestic distilleries purchase millions of tons of raw agricultural materials each year, including Polish grains, corn, potatoes, and sugar beet molasses. Union representatives warned that reduced production at legal distilleries directly reduces buying demand for domestic crops.

Economic pressures on Polish processors are compounded by foreign competition, including the European Union tariff-free import quota of 125 million kilograms of Ukrainian agricultural ethyl alcohol per year. Farming representatives argued that higher tax rates reduce the competitiveness of domestic distilleries and encourage consumers to turn to the illicit shadow economy. The unions called for parliamentary debate on establishing tax rates that sustain legal production and protect agricultural markets.