UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


I think that's already happening. Young people are drinking more beer and less vodka. Also, it's now accepted when you refuse a drink at friends' houses. Having said that, booze is still very much a part of life in northern Europe, and will always be. Education is very important, of course. Cig packets now have revolting pictures on, and I'm sure that will have an effect. Alcohol and its uses and abuses should be part of every school curriculum, along with work on other drugs.

There's much talk on here about the availability of booze. People will always be able to get it, whether petrol stations are allowed to sell it or not. Small shopkeepers would love the opportunity to sell booze out of hours and under the counter.

There's a similar debate about selling booze in airports because of the growing number of air rage incidents. Why should the good suffer for the bad?

(btw, sorry to mention cold Chardonnay, jon. I understand you are in a very dry place atm.)

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


Be prepared. Dib dib dib. Yer man obviously valued peace of mind.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


I haven't used one of these shops to buy out of hours alcohol for about ten years, but banning them would be yet another infringement on our civil liberties. The current government likes to socially engineer, and this idea might appeal to them, but the law should be about extending liberty, not restricting it. What about petrol stations? In, e.g. the nanny state UK, it would be unthinkable to allow them to sell booze, but just yesterday, when filling up, I picked up a bottle of Jacob's Creek Chardonnay for 25PLN. Very handy.

Polonia / Where do you live, in Poland or abroad? [28]


Not a chance. This is hair-splitters' heaven.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]

BBC's Horizon this evening might be of interest to some on here.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


The test is pretty tough, actually, but yes, it's about mentality. It's like the UK was in the 70s and before. The cops are making herculean efforts to catch drink drivers, in my area, anyway. Every long weekend you see loads of cops out stopping cars. And every time the papers report huge numbers of accidents. If there's any good news, it's that vodka consumption seems to be going down, so you don't get quite as many blind drunk drivers.

Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]


You will be asked. And if they are not happy with the explanation, the cash will be confiscated.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


as jon said


The pictures are horrific. The minibus was almost flattened. Drink driving among truckers is a problem that needs to be aggressively addressed.

USA, Canada / Polonian or Polish food in America better? [26]


I used to proofread a Polish meat trade journal. The editor once said that when he started in the business back in the 70s they would take 100kg of pork and get 85kg of ham from it. Now they take 100kg of pork and get 120 kg of ham.

Law / Questions on Civil Wedding Ceremony in Poland- Do we get the certificate on the day? [25]

All yours, Dom.

Law / Questions on Civil Wedding Ceremony in Poland- Do we get the certificate on the day? [25]

If you get married abroad, you'll have a marriage certificate from that country. Poland won't issue one. If you apply for residency, your marital status will be noted.

Law / Questions on Civil Wedding Ceremony in Poland- Do we get the certificate on the day? [25]

My wife has just told me that we got our cert on our wedding day. I guess each register office has its own rules.

Law / Questions on Civil Wedding Ceremony in Poland- Do we get the certificate on the day? [25]

A week or two. Ask the registrar. It's a very straightforward process. You can bring a CD if you want your own music, and champagne. They usually provide glasses. Charpentier's Te Deum and Verve Cliquot for us.

Law / Questions on Civil Wedding Ceremony in Poland- Do we get the certificate on the day? [25]


Shouldn't that be 'within a week or two'? Sounds about right if memory serves. You go to the same place you got married in. I don't see what a wedding party has to do with anything.

Law / Cash loan in Poland without PESEL [49]

Yes, I recently complained to my 'personal advisor' at the bank, and he said that next time I need a loan he will do it without insurance.

Life / Blood donation in Poland [21]


I'm ashamed to say that I'll have the same courier.

Life / Blood donation in Poland [21]

Lightweights. I've gone the whole hog with a complete body donation.

Law / Cash loan in Poland without PESEL [49]

The last two times I've borrowed from my bank I have been made to pay insurance on the loan. The last policy, which finished this month, was about 40PLN/month. This was despite a long history with the bank, demonstrable steady income for seventeen years, and current account funds greater than the loan amount. I guess IIP90 will probably be offered the loan on the strength of his history, albeit brief, but with insurance.

Work / Polish employer suggests I have my own company in UK [21]


That's why I always issue an invoice, even when people say "Oh, don't worry, I don't need one". I might do a freebie or accept a bottle of Scotch, but when it comes to money changing hands honesty is the best policy. Apart from not wanting to get caught, there is also the small matter of roads, hospitals, schools and, of course, politicians' salaries to be considered.

Food / Best place/way in Poland to buy groceries in bulk? [6]


Even without a registered business s/he might be able to get a card. I'd explain to the customer service desk that I (and my fellow med students) wanted to buy a lot of stuff and needed a card. The worst that can happen is they say no.

Life / Car insurance in Poland: where's the best place to get it? [19]

I've been told that AC can only be bought for either a new car or one that has a history of having it. If a car has been insured with just OC, the policy can't be upgraded. I don't know if this is right, but the person who told me seemed sure.

Life / Car insurance in Poland: where's the best place to get it? [19]

My mistake, then. My insurer, Vienna Group, say no. Do insurers who will do it charge a lot more? I pay 620 for OC (with glass).

Life / Car insurance in Poland: where's the best place to get it? [19]


Last chance for AC. Cars over 10 years old can't get it.

News / Road deaths increase in Poland [43]

My last speeding fine, which I picked up in Podlasie, went to Opole. The cop said all fines go there now.


So many single carriageways. People get frustrated when they are stuck on a windy road behind three lorries, a bus and a tractor.

Real Estate / How Poles can pay wlasny? (mortgage) [16]

I'm sure you know far more about banking and finance than I do, so I can't argue. My gripe with banks is that the mortgage interest rates they charge now bear no comparison with the rates charged thirty or forty years ago. No doubt there are reasons for this, but I suspect greed to be the major one. Anyway, as I said, I put my hands up to being ignorant about banking, but usuary remains in my lexicon.

Real Estate / How Poles can pay wlasny? (mortgage) [16]


I don't see how you can say that, as you are unfamiliar with the circumstances. The loan was to finish a 70% completed house with half a hectare of land and all services, which would have served as security. I won't go into the terms of the loan as I have done so elsewhere on this forum several years ago. Suffice it to say that I was certainly not a security risk.

Real Estate / How Poles can pay wlasny? (mortgage) [16]

I wasn't suggesting that their money might be at risk, but that banks everywhere are unscrupulous. I personally rejected a mortgage deal which would have completely tied my hands and incurred costs far above what were once considered reasonable. Most people don't know the meaning of the word 'usuary'. And no wonder. Usuary is normal practice in today's financial world.

Real Estate / How Poles can pay wlasny? (mortgage) [16]


And they are absolutely right.


True, but old Poles are not as green as they're cabbage-looking. They know how to use those Kantors, too.

Real Estate / How Poles can pay wlasny? (mortgage) [16]


I'd guess that very few elderly people outside cities have bank accounts. It would be interesting to know just how much cash lies under Polish beds.


Really? Not on their pay, that's for sure.


Very true of the older generations; not so with the younger ones.

Real Estate / Buying an apartment at auction in Poland. Owners still present [11]


I live in a village in eastern Poland and love it. It's five Km from a town with a hospital, supermarkets, banks, etc., and an hour from a medium-sized city. When the street lights go off at 1100 pm the night sky is a marvel. It is quiet and the neighbours are friendly. Different strokes for different folks. I lived in cities all my life until seven years ago, and this was the best move I've ever made.

As for the op's question, I wouldn't do this if the property were on sale for 50PLN. He would be entering a world of pain.


I'm glad there's no pub where I am. There used to be a shop where farmers would go for a few early morning beers after milking and then roll home for breakfast. As for shops, we have a car. In fact we have two.