Abu Meri: It is important to reduce the total alcohol consumption in Latvia

This affects both public safety and overall health. In Lithuania, by introducing alcohol restrictions, the consumption of alcohol has been reduced, the minister said.

Vinš emphasized that with the planned restrictions, it is planned so that alcohol is consumed less by young people. “Young people are our future,” added the minister.

Alcohol consumption in Latvia has reached a level comparable to an epidemic, therefore, ambitious and complex measures are urgently needed to significantly reduce this indicator, concluded the National Council for Limiting Alcoholism.

The meeting discussed the completion of the initiated measures to curb alcoholism, but no significant new initiatives were announced.

The data of the study of the health habits of Latvian schoolchildren show that the proportion of girls who drink alcohol is increasing, exceeding the proportion of boys for the first time.

The data of the Emergency Medical Assistance Service for 2023 also show that the number of calls related to children who have consumed alcohol has increased.

On the other hand, the data of the National Health Service show that the number of children with mental and behavioral disorders due to alcohol use who were treated for the first time in outpatient and inpatient settings has significantly increased.