Government considers measures against alcohol abuse.
Postimees Digest, Tuesday, July 16
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The government is compiling a green book on alcohol policy, which foresees restrictions on alcohol advertising and amending taxation policy. The parliament has already decided to increase alcohol excise by five percent during four years. While hard liquor producers and importers support uniform restrictions, breweries consider the proposed advertising policy hypocritical and warn that it would be unfair towards local producers. Measures against sale of alcohol to minors are seen as ineffective, since only three shops were punished in 2012, although more than 6,000 minors were punished for drunkenness. The Ministry of the Interior calls for a law amendment allowing the use of minors in the simulation of alcohol purchase.
Estonia leads in the EU in alcohol consumption.
According to the Institute of Economic Research, 10.2 liters of alcohol was consumed per capita in Estonia in 2011. Accordingly, mortality due to alcohol abuse was also highest - 6.2 cases per 100,000 residents in 2010. On the other hand, National Institute for Health Development states that alcohol consumption has significantly declined. While five percent of the population consumed alcohol daily in 2000, only 3.5 percent did so in 2012.