The analysis of the rationing tasks performed by territorial self-government in the economic sphere of counteracting alcoholism points to some conclusions. Various legal means applied to the rationing of trading in alcoholic beverages determining access to alcohol, indicate a considerable role of the gmina self-government and regional self-government in the discussed sphere. This role is not assigned to the poviat self-government in anyway, but to a large extent is related to gminas. On the one hand, there is a positive aspect of the process of passing on the wide competence to the territorial self-government as consistent with the principles of subsidiarity and decentralization that guarantee an important influence on one of the most important branches of social life. On the other hand, we should remember that in this case the trading in alcohol beverages is a special kind of economic activity. In the doctrine there is an opinion that the issue of alcoholism is the nationwide problem, not only the local one. Therefore one should consider whether solving alcohol problems should be assigned to local authorities often remaining under local influence and financial needs of a local pressure group, whose interests may not be consistent with the needs of restrictions on access to alcohol. This contradiction is deepened by imprecise legal expressions and doubts coming from currently binding legal regulations concerning upbringing in sobriety and counteracting alcoholism.