Currently, 41.5% of Poles support reinstating trade on all Sundays, as it was before March 1, 2018. However, 47% are opposed to this idea, while 11.5% remain undecided. At the end of September last year, 52.6% favored lifting the ban, 38.9% were against it, and 8.5% were undecided. The data shows a clear decline in enthusiasm among those who want the change. Previously, they had a majority, but now the opponents slightly outnumber them. Interest in unrestricted Sunday trade is highest among residents of the largest cities earning between 7,000 and 8,999 PLN net per month. Conversely, those who oppose it are primarily from smaller towns with monthly earnings between 1,000 and 2,999 PLN.
According to the cyclical report by UCE RESEARCH and Shopfully (formerly Offerista Group), 41.5% of Poles favor lifting the Sunday trade ban, which was implemented seven years ago. Meanwhile, 47% oppose the change, and 11.5% have no opinion. “In my view, many Poles have become accustomed to the restrictions. Additionally, society is quite tired of discussions about the ban, especially regarding its reversal. Nothing substantial has happened in this matter for a long time. While politicians occasionally bring it up, concrete steps are still missing,” comments Robert Biegaj, co-author of the report from Shopfully.
Missed Opportunities for Lifting the Ban
According to the report’s authors, the best chance to repeal the ban was right after the 2023 elections. At that time, the ruling coalition could have swiftly implemented the change. However, differing opinions within the coalition led to a stalemate. “The longer the ban remains in place, the harder it is to resolve the issue. Additionally, the declining number of supporters of lifting the ban works against any changes, as fewer people advocate for it. However, from an objective perspective, about 40% of society still wants the ban lifted, which is not a small group,” adds Biegaj.
Analysts from UCE RESEARCH emphasize that respondents were asked specifically about reinstating trade on all Sundays, not just one or two Sundays per month. “If the question were about allowing trade on one or two Sundays a month, the results might have been different, as some of the more radical opponents might agree to a partial lift. However, I don’t think this group would be larger than 8-10%. The issue should be viewed broadly. Many retail workers do not want to work on Sundays at all, and nothing will change their minds. Their reluctance is understandable. The problem is that consumers who work intensely throughout the week often lack time for large shopping trips,” explains Biegaj.
A Shift in Public Opinion
The latest results differ significantly from those in September 2024. At that time, 52.6% of Poles supported trade on all Sundays (compared to 41.5% now), 38.9% were against it (now 47%), and 8.5% were undecided (now 11.5%). This means that a few months ago, supporters had a 13.7 percentage point lead, whereas now opponents are ahead by 5.5 points. In February last year, supporters also slightly outnumbered opponents (46% vs. 44%). “A significant change has been observed in recent months. At the moment, I don’t think this trend will reverse quickly. Rather, the number of opponents will continue to grow slightly,” predicts Biegaj.
Experts from UCE RESEARCH also point out that before the last parliamentary elections, there were promises to change these regulations. Similar declarations were made after the new coalition took power on October 15 last year. “The current silence on the issue makes Poles skeptical about the possibility of the ban being lifted. That’s why they are becoming increasingly indifferent to the discussion. Additionally, I have the impression that the retail industry itself is not particularly eager for a change,” observes Biegaj.
Who Supports and Who Opposes Sunday Trade?
Support for reinstating Sunday trade is highest among people aged 18-24 (53.7%), especially those earning between 7,000 and 8,999 PLN per month (52%) and living in cities with over 500,000 residents (49.1%). In contrast, the strongest opposition comes from people aged 55-64 (58.9%), those earning 1,000-2,999 PLN per month (51.3%), and residents of villages and towns with up to 5,000 inhabitants (54.7%).
“Younger people generally dislike restrictions and prohibitions, so they naturally support lifting such limitations. This is particularly true for those with above-average incomes living in large cities—it simply does not suit them. On the other hand, those most often opposed to lifting the ban are people over 55, who usually have more free time for shopping and do not need to visit stores on Sundays. This aligns with the trends related to location size and income levels. The smaller the town and the lower the income, the greater the resistance to lifting the ban,” concludes Biegaj.
Research Methodology
The report is based on a public opinion survey conducted in the second half of February this year using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method. The study was carried out by the analytical and research platform UCE RESEARCH and Shopfully (formerly Offerista Group) on a sample of 1,003 adult Poles aged 18-80.
Source: Managerplus.pl
