Sejm passes nationwide night alcohol sales ban, PiS moves to ban small bottles

What the Sejm passed

The Sejm passed an amendment to the act on sobriety and counteracting alcoholism on Thursday, 8 October 2026, with 400 deputies in favour, 29 against and 4 abstaining. Almost all parliamentary clubs backed it, while the Konfederacja club opposed the amendment in full. The central change is a nationwide ban on selling alcohol for consumption off the premises between 22:00 and 6:00, applying every day including weekends and holidays. It covers supermarkets, discount stores and other outlets selling takeaway alcohol, so even a 24-hour shop could not sell beer, wine or spirits during those hours, although it could stay open. Until now there was no nationwide night ban, and such decisions rested mainly with local governments.

The amendment also imposes a total ban on advertising and promotion of all alcoholic beverages, beer included, with fines from 30,000 to 1 million złoty or restriction of liberty for violations. Municipalities would gain the option to extend the sales ban to 21:00-22:00 and 6:00-9:00. Restaurants and similar gastronomic venues are excluded from the night ban, and airports are excluded as well. The text also limits containers up to 300 ml to glass or metal, and it comes from a Lewica project. According to the reform's stated aims, the measures are meant to limit alcohol availability at night and reduce the effect of alcohol marketing on children and young people.

Senate review and entry into force

The amendment has been referred to the Senate, and the bans do not yet apply. If the upper chamber adopts the text, it goes to the president for signature. Data from August 2026 cited in one report show that in his first year in office the president vetoed 41 laws and signed 255. The act is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

PiS bill on small bottles

On Friday, 9 October, Mariusz Błaszczak, head of the PiS parliamentary club, announced on X a bill banning the sale of alcohol in containers under 500 ml, covering drinks with more than 12% alcohol. PiS had first planned to submit this as an amendment to the act passed on Thursday. Błaszczak said that route could delay the law's entry into force because of a notification procedure, so the party filed a separate bill. He described the small bottles as a social problem:

So-called 'małpki' are a real social problem. A small package means a low one-time price, and they are easy to buy, hide and drink quickly.

Błaszczak added that the state should not make it easier to sell high-strength alcohol in a format designed for quick consumption. He said he counts on support from all parliamentary clubs, and he framed the issue as one without party lines:

In the fight against alcohol problems there should be no party colours.

Local experience in Wrocław

Wrocław has had a night limit on alcohol sales since 2025. Since it was introduced, the services have recorded fewer interventions linked to drinking in public space and to disturbing public order. Police recorded about 7% fewer interventions and the City Guard about 14% fewer, and emergency rooms saw fewer night patients, in some cases a third fewer.

Similar restrictions already operate in some other Polish cities, including Warsaw, Kraków and Gdańsk. The national bill would extend a comparable limit to the whole country from 1 January 2027, if it clears the Senate and the president.