Poland’s government removes free tap water rule from bill, coalition minister vows to bring it back

The original proposal

A provision tucked into a draft law on extended producer responsibility for packaging would have required restaurants, canteens, bars, cafes and other catering businesses to provide tap water free of charge, or for a small fee, in reusable containers. The rule, championed by the Left club, mandated 0.5 litres per person upon request and was intended to curb bottled water consumption and plastic packaging waste. The Ministry of Climate and Environment, headed by Paulina Hennig-Kloska, had set the effective date for 12 August 2026.

Removal and official explanation

On 3 August 2026, the ministry confirmed that the tap water obligation had been stripped from the bill during inter-ministerial consultations. Deputy minister Anita Sowińska told Fakt that the regulation was removed after the Government Legislation Centre objected that the phrase “small fee” was too vague to set a maximum amount. Spokesperson Marek Pogorzelski said the rules would instead follow a separate legislative path.

Provisions on water for customers in restaurants should be properly consulted with those they concern – customers, venue owners, beverage producers. Adding them to a large ROP bill, which deals with waste management and not water sales in restaurants, gave no chance for proper consultation. That is why they will go through a separate legislative route.

Political reaction

Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, leader of the coalition party Poland 2050, reacted sharply on social media. She called the free tap water idea a “good, pro-people solution” and said there was no reason to delete it. She argued the government should have simply removed the “small fee” wording and kept the “free of charge” obligation. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz announced that Poland 2050 would table an amendment in the Sejm to reinstate the mandate.

Free tap water with a meal – a good, pro-people solution. That’s how it works in many countries, for example in France or England. I don’t know what happened here, but there is no reason to strike this provision from the bill. It was enough to remove ‘for a small fee’ and leave just ‘free of charge’. We will submit such an amendment.

Economist Rafał Mundry, who first flagged the removal, noted that France had solved a similar issue in 1967 by banning extra charges for cutlery, plates, water, salt and pepper with a meal.

Industry pushback

Restaurant owners had lobbied against the mandate, warning it would erode high-margin beverage sales. Sławomir Grzyb, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Polish Gastronomy, argued that even tap water carries service costs – washing glasses, serving, heating and air conditioning – and that customers should pay for the overall dining experience. One restaurateur, speaking anonymously, called the proposal “a blow” because drinks, especially in summer, are a key profit driver. MP Robert Dowhan of Civic Coalition also raised practical questions in a parliamentary interpellation, asking about glassware, zero-value receipts, penalties and water quality differences across cities.

A guest comes to a restaurant to eat, to have a bite, to drink and asks for tap water. Indeed, in some cities tap water is better than bottled, though not everywhere. No problem, we love the customer, how much would you like? We can even do takeaway, but… we add a service charge. Because in a restaurant you pay for heating, for air conditioning, for the smile, for the service, for running around the customer. For tap water too.

What happens next

The climate ministry insists the tap water rules are not dead, only moved to a standalone bill that will allow full consultation with customers, restaurateurs and beverage producers. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz expects a majority of MPs to back her amendment, writing: “Not warm, but free tap water for people. Normal normality.” The original 12 August deadline will pass without the mandate, but the political fight is now shifting to parliament.