Estonia is discussing a new alcohol bill that will mandate more cost-effective and evidence-based measures to tackle the burden of alcohol harm in the country. Prime Minister Roivas has gone on record saying that a high alcohol price is the best policy.
According to Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas the best way to prevent and reduce alcohol harm is to implement a high alcohol excise duty and therefore raise the price of alcohol.
As a former minister of social affairs I know that according to studies the most effective measure for fighting against the overconsumption of alcohol is the price, which the state can regulate through excise policy,” Prime Minister Roivas stated.
Minister of Health and Labor Jevgeni Ossinovski has decided to substantially restrict alcohol advertising and is seeking opinions on a bill that would among other things ban audio and visual design elements in alcohol commercials, allowing only a single-color static image to be shown. It would also ban happy hours in establishments where alcohol is served.
The bill is set to further ban outdoor advertisement of alcohol and to require larger stores to designate special areas separated from the rest of the premises with non-transparent walls for the sale of alcohol by 2018.
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For further reading:
More details about Estonia’s bill to prevent and reduce alcohol harm can be found in Kadri’s blog “Battlefield: New Alcohol Draft Law In Estonia“
