WHO: Initial results in Latvia show that restrictions on alcohol availability have helped prevent more than 60 deaths
24.09.2026 - At a joint meeting of the Drug Control and Drug Addiction Restriction Coordination Council and the National Council for the Restriction of Alcoholism, held at the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, 23 September, the WHO Regional Office for Europe presented an initial assessment of the impact of measures introduced in Latvia to reduce alcohol availability.
The data indicate that after these measures were introduced, the number of deaths caused by alcohol use decreased significantly. From 1 August to 31 December 2025, the number of deaths from causes wholly attributable to alcohol use fell by 27%, corresponding to more than 60 deaths prevented.
“For Latvia, this is a strong signal and at the same time an important reminder that responsible alcohol policy can bring about real change. Alcohol use remains one of the most significant public health challenges in Latvia, and these initial results show that by acting on evidence and responsibly implementing the necessary measures, it is possible to save lives. The aim of public health policy is not to restrict people for the sake of restriction, but to build a healthier society and prevent avoidable deaths,” emphasised Minister of Health Hosams Abu Meri.
Reducing alcohol availability is one of the Ministry of Health’s public health priorities. Over several years, the Ministry advanced evidence-based amendments to the Law on the Handling of Alcoholic Beverages. Following a vote in the Saeima, the following measures entered into force on 1 August 2025: shorter alcohol retail sales hours, a six-hour waiting period for the delivery of alcohol purchased online, restrictions on advertising alcohol prices and discounts, restrictions on the use of alcoholic beverages in sales promotion activities, and additional restrictions on alcohol sales at gambling venues.
The aim of these measures is to reduce the physical availability of alcohol and impulsive consumption, particularly during evening and night-time hours. This approach is consistent with the measures recommended by WHO as among the most effective for reducing alcohol-related harm, as well as with the experience of other countries, including neighbouring Lithuania, where such measures have produced measurable results.
“A 27% reduction in deaths from causes wholly attributable to alcohol use is a significant result. However, it will be necessary to continue monitoring the data to assess whether these benefits are sustained over the longer term and how these measures affect the overall burden of alcohol-related harm,” commented Carina Ferreira-Borges, Regional Adviser for Alcohol, Illicit Drugs and Prison Health at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
The WHO assessment was calculated using mortality data provided by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and applying a methodology developed by WHO.
According to the WHO methodology, total alcohol consumption in Latvia amounts to 14.2 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year. In Lithuania, the figure is 11.2 litres, while in Estonia it is 10.4 litres, and both countries have succeeded in improving the situation and reducing these levels.
According to estimates, alcohol use disorders affect 23.3% of the adult population in Latvia, compared with an average of 10.7% in the European Union. Alcohol-related deaths account for 18.1% of all deaths in Latvia, compared with 5.2% in the European Union. Alcohol dependence affects approximately one in eight adults.
The Ministry of Health will also carry out its own evaluation of the alcohol consumption restriction measures introduced last year, prepare a report on their impact and submit it to the Saeima.
Source: Ministry of Health, Latvia
