We wrote more about the veto regarding education law HERE.
Karol Nawrocki's veto on higher excise tax on alcohol
The president also vetoed the bill increasing excise tax increases on alcohol.
The act assumed a sharp acceleration of the schedule of tax increases on alcoholic beverages planned for 2026–2027. The main assumption of the rejected regulations was a drastic increase in excise tax rates on ethyl alcohol, beer, wine and fermented drinks by 15%. from January 1, 2026, which was to replace the so-called a road map assuming annual increases of only 5%.
According to the government project, the rate on ethyl alcohol was to increase from PLN 7,991 to PLN 9,190 per hectoliter of pure alcohol, and the fee for beer was to increase from PLN 10.92 to PLN 12.56 per hectoliter for each degree of Plato.
The presidential veto means that these additional, high increases will not come into force, which protects consumers against the expected sudden increase in retail prices, estimated at an additional few zlotys on a bottle of vodka or several dozen groszy on a can of beer.
The effect of a veto is, among others: less impact on the state budget and the National Health Fund, where funds from the higher levy were to be allocated to finance addiction prevention.
Karol Nawrocki's veto on a higher sugar levy
The president also vetoed the bill raising the sugar levy.
The amendment to the Public Health Act adopted by the Polish government at the end of 2025 introduced significant increases in sugar levy rates, which were to enter into force on January 1, 2026. The key change was to increase the part of the fixed levy from PLN 0.50 to PLN 0.70 per liter of a drink containing sugars or sweeteners in an amount of up to 5 g per 100 ml.
At the same time, the variable part was to be doubled, i.e. the fee for each gram of sugar above the 5 g limit, from the current 5 groszy to 10 groszy. The most drastic change concerned drinks containing caffeine or taurine, where the additional fee will increase tenfold – from 10 groszy to PLN 1 per liter.
See also: Poland threatens a veto in the EU. There are rumors of an unfair solution
The new regulations were aimed at further limiting the consumption of sugar and energy drinks, which is part of the strategy to combat obesity and lifestyle diseases.
The proceeds from the increased levy were to continue to supply the National Health Fund, supporting the financing of prevention and treatment of the effects of excessive sugar consumption.
