11.04.2024 - To reduce alcohol consumption in society, it is planned to limit the hours during which alcoholic beverages can be purchased in retail. It is proposed that from Monday to Saturday, alcohol can be bought from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This was decided by the Saeima's Social and Labor Affairs Commission during the second reading of amendments to the Alcohol Beverage Circulation Law on Tuesday, April 9.
Currently, alcoholic beverages can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The amendments will not apply to retail locations where alcoholic beverages are sold only for on-site consumption in a poured form, nor will they apply to duty-free shops.
The commission had previously decided to increase the age at which it is possible to purchase alcoholic beverages to 20 years. Currently, they can be purchased by persons who have reached the age of 18.
At the same time, amendments to the Alcohol Beverage Circulation Law are intended to limit advertising and marketing of alcoholic beverages, the availability of alcohol, and provide additional information to consumers about its composition and harm.
Excessive alcohol use is one of the main risk factors negatively affecting the health of the population and also poses a threat to the health and safety of the surrounding society. In Latvia, 51 percent of all death cases are explainable by behavioral-related risk factors, including alcohol consumption. The amount of alcohol consumed in Latvia is large and still exceeds the average indicator of European countries, state the authors of the bill.
The Social and Labor Affairs Commission continued its deliberation on the amendments to the law on April 10.