News in the sale of alcohol – how many days a week will it be marketed, how long will it be marketed and will it be sold to 18-year-olds

Today, the Saeima, in the second reading of the amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages, rejected the proposal that would have prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under 20 years of age. Some of the factions essentially had a “free vote” on the issue, with MPs voting differently.

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38 MPs from the Union of Greens and Peasants (ZZS) and “Stability”, as well as some parliamentarians from “Jaunas vietitsas” (JV), National Union (NA) and “United List” (AS) voted for increasing the age threshold. 25 MPs voted against – part of “Progressives”, “Latvija first” (LPV), JV, NA and AS, and 23 MPs from the majority of these same parties abstained.

Therefore, the parliament has decided contrary to what was previously decided in the Social and Labor Affairs Commission of the Saeima, where this proposal was supported. At present, alcohol can be bought by persons over the age of 18.

It supports the sale of alcohol six days a week until 8 p.m., but on Sundays – two hours shorter

In the second reading, the Saeima today supported the amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages, which provides for the introduction of new restrictions on the sale of alcohol – from Monday to Saturday, it can be sold from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sundays – from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. must be voted on in the final reading.

Restrictions on the time of sale of alcohol will not be directly linked to working days, holidays or public holidays, as this would complicate regulation. This means that, for example, on an official holiday that falls on a working day, it will be possible to buy alcohol until 8 p.m.

Currently, alcohol is available in retail in Latvia every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

It was decided to support the above-mentioned approach because, as previously explained in the Saeima’s Social and Labor Affairs Committee by a lawyer from the Saeima’s Legal Office, if a different approach was chosen – with the division of working days, holidays and public holidays – then it would be more difficult to find a coherent regulation, for example in connection with for the postponed working days.

The law already stipulates that the time limits do not apply to retail outlets where alcoholic beverages are sold only in draft form and their consumption is ensured on the spot, as well as to duty-free shops.

Also, the law will stipulate that it is allowed to deliver alcohol purchased remotely or on the Internet to the buyer no sooner than six hours from the moment of ordering. Distance selling of alcohol was introduced during Covid-19.

The law also stipulates that it is prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages with an absolute alcohol content of more than 22 percent by volume in a packaging unit whose volume does not exceed 0.2 liters.

Along with the amendments supported today, it is intended to limit 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 reduce the impulsive purchase of alcohol, the amendments provide for the prohibition of sales promotion measures that offer to buy several units of alcoholic beverages at a lower price, as well as discounts on alcoholic beverages in the consumer loyalty program.

The amendments intend to establish that the advertising of prices and discounts of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited in press publications, printed advertising publications and publications for consumers, 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 selling (including using a distance contract) and providing services in places that have or have not been issued a special permit (including beauty salons, hair salons, wedding salons, electrical goods stores, car accessories stores, etc.), to offer alcoholic beverages for free, 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.

The Saeima will still have to vote on these amendments in the final reading.

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