However, the Saeima will decide on the amendments in September, as it needs an opinion from the European Commission.
The amendments have now been approved by the Saeima in the second reading, but they need to be approved in third - final - reading to enter into force. In the second reading, a majority of the Saeima rejected the ban on alcohol purchases under the age of 20, which was previously supported by the Saeima committee.
At the committee meeting on Wednesday, MPs withdrew several proposals.
The amendments currently supported provide that:
- alcohol will be sold between 10:00 and 20:00 on weekdays and Saturdays, and between 10:00 and 18:00 on Sundays;
- labels on alcoholic beverages will have to indicate their nutritional value and chemical composition;
- advertising of alcohol prices and discounts will be prohibited in retail outlets where alcoholic beverages are sold (including via distance contracts on websites and mobile apps), in newspapers, printed advertising and consumer publications, in cinemas, on websites, and online, as well as via postal services;
- alcohol will not be banned from being sold on the internet, but distance selling will be restricted, with a minimum of six hours between ordering and receiving the drink;
- the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption at gaming machines, card, dice and roulette tables or other gambling equipment will be prohibited in gambling venues.
However, the amendments will not be considered by the Saeima in the final reading until the autumn, as the Ministry of Health now has time to coordinate the amendments with the European Commission. The commission therefore on Wednesday endorsed the entry into force of the amendments from 2025.
The Committee admits that the proposals withdrawn by MPs and other issues are likely to be revisited in the autumn, as both the alcohol sector and the Ministry of Health are not fully satisfied with the compromise reached.
One of the issues that could still be discussed in the autumn is the age at which alcohol can be purchased. In this respect, the age threshold for purchasing alcohol has been mentioned as 18 (as it is currently) 19, and 20.
