Warsaw Prohibition hangs on the Italian? The committees of the capital's council are against
On Thursday, committees of Warsaw councilors met, where the first reading of two projects introducing night prohibition in the capital took place. The councilors gave a negative opinion on both projects.
The Social Policy and Family Policy Committee and the Economic Development Committee rejected the projects by votes 5 to 4. The Public Security and Order Committee also gave the projects negatively with the 2 to 7 vote ratio.
On Thursday there will be a session at which councilors will vote for two projects regarding the ban on night sales of alcohol. There are two projects in the game – President of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski and left councilors and the city is ours.
The projects differ in the start time of the prohibition – The left and city club is ours proposed prohibition between 22.00-6.00, and the president of Warsaw from 23.00-6.00. The presidential project also assumed a longer grace period – 3 months, and councilors – 14 days after publishing in the Public Information Bulletin of the Capital City of Warsaw.
Sales restriction is to apply in stores and at gas stations. Night prohibition will not cover restaurants, bars, pubs, etc.
Of the 18 Warsaw districts, 14 negatively gave the idea of introducing a night prohibition in alcohol stores. However, four supported this idea.
On Tuesday morning a conference of left councilors took place in front of the capital's town hall and the city is ours, who appealed to colleagues from the Civic Coalition to support the night ban.
The chairwoman of the Lewica and MJN club Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska pointed out that information about the “certain dispute” between KO councilors and the president of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, who is also the vice-chairman of the PO, are disturbing and absurd.
– We are concerned that the internal, political dispute will become more important than the good and safety of the inhabitants – she added.
Jan Mencwel from MJN reminded about social consultations, in which over 80 percent of Warsaw residents were in favor of the introduction of night prohibition. Also, the opinion of residents' opinions – Warsaw Barometer – indicated that over 60 percent of the inhabitants are for the night limitation of alcohol sales.
– Thursday voting, these are not voting for the safety of residents, but it is also voting for democracy or against it – he noted.
He assessed that if councilors vote against prohibition, they would also reject the will of the inhabitants, expressed in consultations. He added that in this way they would show that in principle organizing public consultations does not make sense. – Because why do them, since the results do not change the approach of KO councilors – he noted.
Councilor MJN Marta Szczepańska showed a letter in which the commander of the Warsaw Garrison of the Polish Army expresses his approval for the introduction of night prohibition in the capital.
Councilor MJN Melania Łuczak reminded that the municipalities that have introduced a ban assess it very positively. – In the years 2022-2025 in Krakow, the number of police interventions fell by more than 70 percent, and 34 percent of the city guard. In Olsztyn, since 2018, interventions have fallen by over 50 percent in three years – she said. She added that Wrocław and Gdańsk extended the ban on subsequent housing estates.
Left Senator Magdalena Biejat pointed out that the consultation carried out by the city clearly shows that the inhabitants of Warsaw want to follow in the footsteps of Krakow or Olsztyn, and also introduce a restriction of alcohol sales at night.
– In the background of the ban on the night sales of alcohol is, as you can see, the political split between the President of Warsaw and the councilors of KO. Please, regardless of the source of this disagreement, but do not sacrifice the political struggle and residents on the altar – she added.
In the years 2018-2024, about 180 municipalities in Poland introduced the night prohibition. In 30 cases, the restriction applies only to part of the commune or city. Most of such provisions were adopted by local governments of the following voivodships: Mazowieckie, Lesser Poland and Greater Poland.
Among the large cities, the night ban throughout the area was introduced by, among others Krakow, Bydgoszcz and Biała Podlaska. Prohibition only in Śródmieście applies, among others in Poznań, Wrocław, Rzeszów, Katowice, Bielsko-Biała and Kielce.
In June, Giżycko introduced the night prohibition in the tourist season. In July, such regulations were introduced in Słupsk, and at the beginning of August in Szczecin. In Gdańsk, the night prohibition has been in force from the beginning of September. (PAP)
Mas/ Jann/
