Beer brewer wants vodka buyers age limit raised

Photo: Toomas Huik/Postimees

According to Saku Brewery executive director Margus Kastein, alcohol consumption in Estonia could be lowered by raising age limit on strong alcoholic beverages purchases to 21 years, as in Nordic Countries.

«In Estonia, consumption of pure alcohol in 10.2 litres per inhabitant; should we desire the people to drink less, my advice is: drink less vodka,» said he.

According to Mr Kastein, of the 10.2 litres of pure alcohol consumed by Estonians, 4.3 litres is vodka, 3.9 litres beer and 0.9 low-alcohol beverages. In Finland, however, the percentage of vodka of pure alcohol per person is 23.

Mr Kastein advises raising age limit for buying strong alcohol from 18 years to 21, as in Nordic Countries. «Technically, this will be highly complex. Still, we need to seek ways to lower the availability of vodka. For instance: put strong alcohol behind the counter,» he suggested.

Mr Kastein pointed to Finland and Sweden, where beer is sold in ordinary grocery stores, vodka in state monopolies only.

«That would be fine with me, if beer also would be sold starting 20 years of age,» commented the Liviko chief executive Janek Kalvi.

Mr Kalvi said he could not agree with the society being sent the signal that one form of alcohol is less harmful or better or more culturally acceptable than another.

«At the moment, we have the beer versus vodka discussion. However, the real issue is strong alcohol vs low-alcohol beverages – with a far greater variety of alcohol included,» stressed Mr Kalvi, adding that, in that case, the question should rather be set of an overall higher age limit on purchases of alcohol.

According to Mr Kalvi, a host of other issues emerge as age limit is raised. «If it is allowed to run for Riigikogu (parliament) aged 18, and to pass laws, then how can we assume they are not competent enough to decide if it would be right for them to personally buy alcohol,» said the Liviko chief.

Mr Kalvi also addressed the Saku Brewery CEO’s second suggestion related to limits on locations of vodka sales, saying that with any limits the maxim «alcohol is alcohol» needs to be adhered to. In his opinion, all amendments rather belong to the category of societal discussions on what should and shouldn’t be limited, not declaring some drinks good and others bad.