The Saeima recently delayed the second reading of proposed amendments to the Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law, which aim to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages to individuals under 20 years of age.
According to information obtained by LETA from Andris Bērziņš, chairman of the Saeima’s Social and Employment Matters Committee, certain coalition and potentially opposition members may suggest removing beer, cider, and wine from the roster of alcoholic beverages subject to the proposed age restrictions.
Expressing his dissent, Bērziņš stated that he does not endorse this proposal. He argued that exempting beverages with lower alcohol content does not align with recent Saeima regulations concerning tobacco products, which stipulate that only individuals aged 20 and above will be permitted to purchase such items starting in 2025.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised that the alcoholic beverage industry may view this exception as an attempt to manipulate competition. The committee’s chairman also mentioned the possibility of businesses contesting these regulations in the Constitutional Court of Latvia.
In addition to the age restrictions, the proposed amendments to the Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law entail other alterations, including limitations on the permissible hours for alcohol sales: 10:00 – 20:00 from Monday to Saturday and 10:00 – 18:00 on Sundays.
