Following examples set in other Polish cities, Warsaw had the chance to implement a late-night alcohol ban across the entire capital, a move welcomed by residents concerned about the effects of excessive drinking.
During Thursday’s city council session, Deputy Mayor Jacek Wiśniewski, who served under Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, unexpectedly resigned after the planned citywide pilot night-time alcohol ban was abruptly shelved. The restrictions will now apply only to two districts: central Warsaw’s Śródmieście and Praga-Północ in the northeast.
The decision sparked political tensions and drew criticism from various quarters.
Late-night booze still easy to buy in most of Warsaw, alcohol-abuse opponents warn
One of Poland’s most prominent contemporary writers, Jakub Żulczyk, took to social media to denounce the move.
The novelist described the council’s approach as “scandalous” and “against the city’s interest.” He wrote:
You are acting like enemies of your own city. You know very well how night-time alcohol restrictions affect the number of accidents, crimes, and hospital emergency room waiting times.
Yet you stubbornly cling to a falsely understood notion of ‘freedom,’ worried only about your own positions and political survival.
You don’t even explain to people that the proposed restrictions do not apply to restaurants and clubs, only to petrol stations and shops.
You know what residents want - you saw the public consultations. Warsaw will remember this. Shame.
Postawa warszawskich radnych PO jest zwyczajnie skandaliczna. Zachowujecie się jak wrogowie Waszego własnego miasta....
Opublikowany przez Jakuba Żulczyka Czwartek, 18 września 2025
Żulczyk, who has long campaigned against alcohol abuse and hosts a popular podcast on addiction recovery, warned that the councillors’ limited restrictions could worsen alcohol-related problems in Poland, where cheap, strong alcohol remains widely accessible to some segments of the population.
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Source: Facebook.com/jakub.zulczyk