Poland's lower house of parliament, the Sejm, approved a far-reaching package of alcohol restrictions on October 8, 2026, with 400 lawmakers voting in favor, 29 against, and four abstaining. The legislation introduces a nationwide ban on nighttime alcohol sales for off-premises consumption, prohibits most forms of alcohol advertising and promotion, and substantially increases retail licensing fees. The measures, developed from proposals submitted by the Left and Poland 2050 parties, are intended to reduce overall alcohol consumption and alcohol-related public disturbances. However, the legislation still requires consideration by the Senate and the signature of President Karol Nawrocki before becoming law. Most provisions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The proposed nationwide sales restriction would prohibit shops, supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retailers from selling alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Municipalities would additionally be permitted to extend these restrictions to the periods between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. and between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Bars, restaurants, and other hospitality establishments could continue serving alcohol for consumption on their premises. Nearly 200 municipalities, including Warsaw and Kraków, have already introduced local nighttime restrictions. According to Notes from Poland, police interventions during nighttime hours in Kraków declined by almost 50 percent during the first six months after the city's restrictions took effect in 2023.
Of particular importance to the brewing industry is the proposed prohibition on advertising and promoting alcoholic beverages, including beer. Unlike wine and spirits, beer currently benefits from an advertising exemption under Polish law. However, the legislation contains a significant transitional provision: beer advertising would remain permitted under existing rules until December 31, 2027. The broader restrictions on sales promotions would generally begin in January 2027, while the advertising prohibition would become fully applicable to beer from January 2028. Certain narrowly defined exceptions would remain, including promotional activities within specified licensed premises and non-promotional, informational communication concerning wine products. Violations of the advertising rules could result in fines ranging from PLN 30,000 (USD 7,700) to PLN 1 million (USD 255,000), or restrictions on personal liberty.
Retailers will also face substantially higher licensing costs. The basic permit fee for selling beer and other alcoholic beverages containing up to 18 percent alcohol will double from PLN 525 (USD 134) to PLN 1,050 (USD 268). For beverages exceeding 18 percent alcohol, the fee will increase from PLN 2,100 (USD 536) to PLN 4,200 (USD 1,072). Additional turnover-based licensing charges will also increase. These changes could particularly affect smaller independent retailers operating on narrow margins.
Another provision makes age verification mandatory whenever a retailer has doubts about whether a customer is at least 18 years old. Failure to present an appropriate identity document requires the seller to refuse the transaction. The legislation also establishes specific rules for online alcohol sales, including electronic age verification, clearly marked deliveries, a minimum waiting period of 24 hours between ordering and delivery, and direct handover to the recipient. Additional packaging requirements include restrictions on containers holding no more than 300 milliliters and mandatory health warnings addressing pregnancy, underage drinking, and driving under the influence. Some labeling requirements will be phased in after longer transitional periods.
The proposed restrictions come at a challenging time for Poland's brewing industry. According to Statistics Poland, annual beer consumption declined to 81.7 liters (0.817 hl) per capita in 2025, representing a 4.9 percent decrease from the previous year and an 18.7 percent decline from the 2018 peak of 100.5 liters (1.005 hl). The industry's structural difficulties have already resulted in brewery closures and consolidation. In October 2025, Grupa Żywiec, a subsidiary of Heineken, announced plans to close its historic Namysłów brewery, citing declining beer demand and increasing operating costs (inside.beer, 17.10.2025).
For domestic brewers, importers, distributors, and beverage retailers, the legislation could fundamentally alter marketing strategies and sales patterns. The planned advertising restrictions remove important opportunities for brand development, particularly for smaller and emerging breweries seeking to establish themselves against larger competitors. At the same time, the nighttime retail ban could shift some consumption toward the hospitality sector or earlier purchasing hours rather than eliminating demand entirely. Whether the measures ultimately reduce overall alcohol consumption or primarily redistribute existing sales remains uncertain.
