2024-04-10 14:07:38
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 the May 1st holiday, which 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 explained by the lawyer of the Legal Office of the Saeima, if a different approach had been 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 the shifted working days.
During the discussions of the members of the commission in favor of setting a limit until 6 pm on Sunday, it was pointed out that the initially proposed offer until 3 pm would be too huge, risking “choking” on it and not being able to digest it. Deputy Zane Skujiņa-Rubene (JV) stated that if the restriction she supported on Sundays until 18:00 does not produce the necessary results, then in the future it will be possible to return to this issue and set a stricter restriction until 15:00.
MP Ramonda Petraviča (LPV) also expressed her support for the restriction on Sundays until 18:00 instead of 15:00. It is important to address the fact that so many people in Latvia drink alcohol excessively, but too wide restrictions would not be appropriate, as can be concluded from what Petravičas said, the politician also drawing attention to the approach to alcohol consumption in Spain.
Meanwhile, MP Ingrīda Circene (JV) emphasized the very negative consequences, including the fact that alcohol consumption also leads to violence and, in some tragic cases, even to the killing of family members. However, the politician’s call to maintain the stricter restriction previously supported in the subcommittee, which would have allowed the sale of alcohol on Sundays until 3 p.m., was not supported.
At the meeting of the debate commission, the representatives of the alcohol industry were criticized for lying and untruths from the health workers. On the other hand, some representatives of the health sector were indirectly reprimanded for unnecessary personal insults, while someone else’s statement was assessed as demagoguery.
The parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Health (MoH) Artjoms Uršulskis called to support the fact that alcohol sales would be allowed only until 3 pm on public holidays. The use of alcohol on several holidays in a row creates the greatest risks, as people end up in acute conditions, hospitalization, and also on Mondays, the number of sick leaves increases, most likely due to arrhythmia and high blood pressure caused by alcohol consumption, explained the parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
Circene also pointed out that the approach supported by the commission today does not solve the problem of excessive alcohol consumption on the last day of a longer holiday.
Pēteris Liniņš, the Chairman of the Board of Brewers of Latvia, emphasized that the earlier time limits were justified with the aim of reducing alcohol consumption, but it seems that it has not decreased. Liniņš emphasized that, on behalf of the industry, he categorically does not support working time restrictions on holidays and Sundays.
Also, the representative of the Latvian Alcohol Industry Association, Dāvis Vītols, pointed out that the restrictions on the time of sale of alcohol are not effective, because 60% of people already have alcohol stocks and survey data available to the industry show that after new restrictions, 4% will buy less alcohol, while 18% will buy more , creating stocks.
Another representative of the alcohol industry drew attention to the fact that it is possible for citizens to make a technical solution for the production of alcohol at home for not too much money, and that some people are already using this approach.
On the other hand, the representative of the health field emphasized at the meeting that alcohol causes several types of cancer, as well as detailed various other health problems caused by alcohol consumption and why it should be limited.
Pēteris Apinis, adviser to the Minister of Health, emphasized that with the current regulation and failure to set appropriate restrictions, the working abilities of the Latvian population are being undermined and the people are being silenced.
The Commission previously supported the proposal for amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages, which provides that it will be prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages to persons under 20 years of age. At present, alcohol can be bought by persons over the age of 18.
At the same time, the commission has supported the proposal, which foresees exceptional cases, so that the work opportunities of adults in the food and public catering industry are not limited, and the learning of the practical part of the professional education program is not affected, in which, among other things, the learner could also be assigned tasks related to the circulation of alcoholic beverages.
2024-04-10 14:07:38