Latvian Saeima’s Social and Employment Matters Committee passed the proposal for amendments to the Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law. These amendments will ensure alcohol is not sold to persons who are younger than 20 years.
Currently alcohol in Latvia is sold to persons 18 years of age and older.
At the same time, the committee also supported the proposal that provided exceptional cases in order not to restrict the employment opportunities of adult persons in the catering sector, as well as not to affect the acquisition of the practical part of the vocational education program, in which, among other things, the learner could also be assigned tasks related to the circulation of alcoholic beverages.
Chairman of Latvian Brewers’ Union Pēteris Liniņš said the drinking problem among Latvian youth is in decline. He said the union “categorically objects” to this measure because there is no legitimate goal behind the age threshold change.
The biggest discussions in the committee concerned what the Public Health Sub-Committee had previously discussed.
The Public Health Sub-Committee previously supported the proposal to ban the sale of alcohol from 3 pm on Sundays and public holidays, with the exception of retail outlets where alcoholic beverages are sold only in poured form and provided for consumption on the spot, as well as duty-free shops. The committee may support such a proposal.
The Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance generally do not support such strict sale time restrictions. Instead ministries propose a compromise – shortening the sales of alcohol by one hour in the morning and in the evening. This is explained with the big influence this would have on less populated areas.
Liniņš said the shortening of sales times would negatively affect tourism and sales of alcohol, which are already downward facing. All of this would have an impact on the state budget.
Dr. Pēteris Apinis stressed that people’s brains continue developing until the age of 25. This is why it is important to monitor and protect children and youngsters until then. According to him, the aforementioned proposals are cosmetic and will not do much. Nevertheless, they may help reduce alcohol consumption over the internet. The doctor invited deputies to be responsible towards their country.
A representative of the State Revenue Service mentioned that if regulations are passed to limit time for the sale of alcohol, it will be necessary to review all retail licences, and it will be necessary to pay a state fee.
Latvian Medical Association President Ilze Aizsilniece stressed that it is also important to educate society, as well as provide money for the treatment of additions.
The head of the committee Andris Bērziņš inviting those present at the meeting to not promote how good or bad it is to drink alcohol. Instead he invited them to provide arguments to explain their respective opinions about specific proposals.
Amendments will be passed soon enough regardless, he promised.
Saeima deputy Ingūna Circene said these amendments are “a minimal minimum” to make sure society doesn’t drink itself to death. “What we are talking about here at all, we do not prohibit the sale of alcohol, we try a little to improve and limit. This is hypocrisy from those who care about the economy or trade”, said the politician, stressing that the discussion is pointless.
Deputy Mairita Lūse stressed there is no way to reduce alcohol consumption without causing fiscal influence.
Saeima deputy Ramona Petraviča said she supports the compromise solution proposed by ministries that suggest shortening the time for the sale of alcohol by one hour in the morning and the evening. According to her, no one has stopped to consider why people drink. It’s easy to adopt restrictions, but they are just fiction, nothing else, she said.
She said restrictions affect the most the 90% of people who don’t have a problem with alcohol.
The committee will return to amendments after Easter.
Also read: Saeima secretary suggests minister Krišjānis Kariņš should find courage and step down
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