In order to reduce alcohol consumption in society, it is planned to limit the time during which alcoholic beverages can be purchased in retail. It is planned that from Monday to Saturday, alcohol will be available for purchase from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., and on Sundays – from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. This is expected on Thursday, May 9, in the 2nd reading in the Saeima by the supporters of the law amendments.
The Saeima rejected the proposal previously supported by the Social and Labor Affairs Commission to increase the age from which it is possible to buy alcoholic beverages to 20 years.
Alcohol consumption is one of the main risk factors that negatively affects the health of the population and also threatens the health and safety of the surrounding community. In our country, 51 percent of all deaths are attributable to behavioral risk factors, including alcohol use. The amount of alcohol consumed in Latvia is the highest among the countries of both the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the authors of the draft law say.
The changes in the law envisage limiting the advertising, marketing and availability of alcoholic beverages. It is also planned to ensure that the consumer will receive additional information about the energy value, nutritional value and composition of alcoholic beverages.
In order to limit impulsive purchases of alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages purchased on the website or mobile app will be delivered to the buyer no sooner than six hours after ordering. Also, with the aim of reducing impulsive purchases of alcohol, the amendments provide for the prohibition of sales promotion measures that offer to purchase several units of alcoholic beverages at a lower price, as well as discounts on alcoholic beverages within the framework of the consumer loyalty program.
With the amendments, it is planned to expand the ban on advertising the price and discounts of alcoholic beverages. It is intended to establish that advertising will be prohibited in press publications, printed advertising publications and publications, cinemas, websites and online, using postal (including electronic mail) services, as well as in retail outlets where alcoholic beverages are sold.
It is also planned to impose a ban on offering alcoholic beverages for free in places of trade (including through distance contracts) and service provision that have or have not been issued a special permit (including beauty salons, hair salons, wedding salons, electrical goods stores, car accessories stores, etc.), as a gift or compensation.
The bill also envisages establishing that the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption at gaming machines, card, dice and roulette tables or other gambling equipment will be prohibited in places where gambling is organized. The purpose of this norm is to separate two addictive processes, says the annotation of the draft law.
In order for the amendments to enter into force, they must be approved by the Commission for Social and Labor Affairs and the Saeima in the final reading.
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