Night prohibition in Szczecin. Positive opinion of the city council's health commission

As early as next summer, a ban on the sale of alcohol at night outside places where it is allowed to be consumed may be in effect in Szczecin. This means that it will be possible to buy it in a restaurant, to drink on the spot, but it will not be available at night in a shop or at a petrol station. Councillors from the health committee of the Szczecin city council have given a positive opinion on the draft resolution introducing such a prohibition.

The draft resolution introducing restrictions on the night-time sale of alcoholic beverages intended for consumption outside the place of sale is to be submitted to the Szczecin City Council for consideration at the next session. The proposed change in local law means a ban on the sale of alcohol between 11 p.m. and 6 p.m. throughout Szczecin.

On Tuesday, this project was debated by councillors present at the meeting of the Health and Social Welfare Committee of the City of Szczecin. The discussion was preceded by a presentation of the results of a survey conducted among 107 people addicted to alcohol. The survey, conducted in addiction therapy centres, aimed to check how people struggling with alcohol problems perceive the impact of the widespread availability of alcohol on safety. The participants of the survey were mostly professionally active people, with a disturbingly large number of young people (18-25 years old) already addicted.

As many as 90% of respondents (58 men out of 68 and 37 women) encountered social problems or public order disturbances related to the sale of alcohol at night. An important conclusion is the statement of many respondents: "I wouldn't look if the points were closed."

Councillor Łukasz Tyszler (Civic Coalition) emphasised that the main aim of the resolution is not to directly combat alcoholism, but to increase the safety of residents at night. He emphasised that the restriction applies only to the sale of alcohol to go, and does not apply to restaurants, bars or closed events.

- Some municipalities have already introduced such bans and in fact data from the police and municipal guards show that the number of incidents has decreased, what's more, data from emergency departments in hospitals in these towns show that they have fewer patients with injuries resulting from beatings, blows, fractures - said Łukasz Tyszler.

- Of course, I am "for" one hundred percent, because I think it will improve safety in our city - said councilor Romianowski. - Of course, prohibition will not solve the problem of alcohol addiction, because there are other methods, other institutions for that. However, it will definitely improve safety around these unfortunate 24-hour stores, which - I have to say this with great sadness - generate pathological behavior in our city. Of course, there will be no club discipline in my club either, because I know that there are councilors who have a slightly different opinion. However, I can assure you that at the City Council session I will definitely vote for the introduction of this prohibition, because these are issues, I will repeat once again, safety, and safety should be the most important for all of us.

Neighborhood councils could also express their opinion on introducing a restriction on alcohol sales at night. Out of 37 neighborhood councils, 24 expressed their opinion and 21 of them supported introducing such a restriction.

The resolution, if adopted by councillors during the session, will enter into force after 14 days from its announcement in the Official Journal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Councillors from the Health and Social Welfare Committee of the City of Szczecin gave a positive opinion on the draft resolution.©℗

Text and photos by Agnieszka Spirydowicz

More on this topic in Wednesday’s “Kurier Szczeciński” and eKurier from May 21, 2025.