City dwellers want to get free of these views after night libations. Source: pixabay.comNight Prohibition, that is, the ban on selling alcohol after 10:00 p.m., has aroused large emotions in Poland for respective years. Local governments are making increasingly courageous decisions and the rulers are arguing over the limits of citizens' freedom and security. Supporters of the ban talk of a real step towards improving the quality of life, opponents see another example of mediocre regulation and state interference in private elections. What is the real future of this kind of regulation in Poland?
The beginnings of this solution in our country date back to 2018, erstwhile the anticipation of adopting night Prohibition by the municipal councils was introduced. The first were tourist cities, specified as Sopot or Zakopane, faced with the problem of noisy parties and night terrors. Over time, the ban on sales during the night began to appear besides in large academic centers. Recently, a hot discussion has warmed up in Warsaw. Its authorities have announced that they are considering introducing night Prohibition throughout the city. The decision was met with the support of any residents, but besides sparked violent criticism from entrepreneurs and liberal environments. Surprisingly, any PO councillors were among the critics. Eventually, alternatively of a common ban, it was decided to pilot. Night Prohibition will cover only 2 districts: Downtown and Prague-North. This choice has caused controversy. The inhabitants of another parts of the city felt left out and unheard, and the opposition accused the town hall of “political evasion”. Arguments for and against cannot be given simple slogans. Supporters point to police data. According to the Kraków Provincial Police Command, the number of interventions related to disorderly conduct fell by 17% in the first year of the regulation. However, opponents say that regulation does not solve the problem of alcoholism, but only shifts it to another hours. Does night Prohibition truly restrict the freedom of Poles?
– In this regard, the evaluation must depend on which concept of freedom we adopt: freedom from or freedom to? – says the expert in social policy, Prof. UAM Dr. Krzysztof Hajder from the Faculty of Political Sciences and Journalism. – In terms of freedom from, understood as a deficiency of external restrictions, the state or public authorities should not interfere in the sphere of private individual decisions. From this perspective, night Prohibition constitutes a regulation on freedom, preventing consumers from buying alcohol at their chosen time. The State so assumes a certain degree of freedom of choice by introducing administrative regulation which does not let the right to acquisition a legal product to be exercised. explains.
It is different if we look at it from the another perspective. – Taking freedom understood as freedom to enjoy the right to safety and health, night Prohibition can be treated as a means of strengthening freedom, due to the fact that limiting the night's availability of alcohol reduces the hazard of violence, accidents or addiction. Citizens thus gain a greater sense of safety in public space and the anticipation of surviving in a healthier social environment. The state therefore, erstwhile introducing regulations, creates conditions for exercising freedom in a affirmative sense. For example, freedom to decision around the city at night or freedom from alcohol abuse violence," adds the professor.
Does that make sense?
Are the opponents of night Prohibition right, claiming that the ban can only increase the sale of alcohol by 10:00 and the problem of alcoholism will stay unchanged? Prof. Hajder replies: "Research on consumer behaviour indeed indicates that addicts or regular drinkers adapt their purchases to the regulations in force, making stocks of high-interest drinks earlier. In this sense, Prohibition does not destruct this problem as a social disease, but only limits its visibility in public space during night hours," he explains. The scientist adds: "However, supporters of regulation point out that even if full alcohol consumption does not decrease significantly, the consumption structure changes. Limiting the availability of alcohol at night reduces the hazard of alleged impulse drinking, characteristic of returning from clubs, events or abrupt decisions. investigation from the Nordic countries shows that night Prohibition is linked to a decrease in police intervention, street fights and road accidents after alcohol, which means real social and wellness benefits, regardless of whether alcoholism statistic change.
The issue of night Prohibition besides affects the economy and everyday life of urban residents. store owners claim that the ban on the sale of interest drinks between 22:00 and 6:00 is simply a measurable financial failure for them, especially in tourist cities. According to the data of the Association of Polish Entrepreneurs, the revenues of commercial points fall on average by 12-15% during the year following the introduction of restrictions. On the another hand, residents of settlements located close 24h shops see improvements – little loud brawls, broken windows or trash under blocks. So the conflict of interest becomes obvious: what for any is simply a step towards a more peaceful life, for others it means a hazard of losing a occupation or the request to close a business. Local governments are trying to reconcile these conflicting perspectives by introducing regulations only in selected areas, which raises allegations of unequal treatment of entrepreneurs and legal chaos.
In a September IBRiS survey for PAP, as many as 68% of respondents supported the introduction of a ban on night selling alcohol in their locality. This thought is supported by over 80% of women, as well as 73% of people aged 18-29. For this reason, the debate on the night Prohibition besides gained momentum in parliament. The Left presented a draft bill which provides for a ban on the sale of alcohol after 10:00 p.m. throughout the country. president Nawrocki in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski for Radio ZET admitted that he feels free and is behind as fewer bans and warrants as possible, but if the bill appears in the Presidential Palace, he will seriously consider signing it. The question arises as to whether night Prohibition should be managed at local or national level? If nationwide, is there a chance to make changes soon?
Perspectives for Change
– On the 1 hand, local level allows to adapt solutions to the circumstantial characteristics of a given municipality or city. The needs of tiny towns and another large academic or tourist centres are different. However, leaving full freedom for self-governments leads to a situation where regulation is fragmented, and citizens decision alcohol consumption and purchases to neighbouring towns, which changes the structure of night tourism and creates fresh threats, specified as increased night traffic, crime concentrated in the “enclaves of sales”, says prof. Hajder. The expert explains how the proposed legal solutions should look. "Therefore, I believe that specified regulations should be of a national nature. Only uniform rules avoid the "throwing-off" effect and guarantee consistency in preventive action. The chance to introduce nationwide night Prohibition depends on political will. In Poland, this subject creates divisions not only between parties, but besides within their structures. any politicians see limitations as a tool to combat social pathologies, while others see them as a manifestation of excessive state interference in the lives of citizens and economical activity. As a result, it seems that there is presently no parliamentary majority to carry out specified a change – he explains.
Although the culture of drinking alcohol in Poland is slow changing, and more and more people consciously restrict its consumption, the belief that without a glass it is hard to imagine crucial celebrations – from baptism and communion to marriage. Night Prohibition so fits into a wider debate on how to redefine our social habits and the way we think about high-interest drinks.
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