Baltic News Network, 26-09-2024
In order to prohibit the advertising of prices and discounts for beer and wine on television and radio and thus reduce both the total consumption of alcoholic beverages and the negative impact of advertising on young people, the Saeima supported amendments to the Electronic Media Law in its final reading on Thursday, the 26th of September.
Currently, in Latvia, according to the law, the advertising of alcoholic beverages is prohibited, except for two types of beverages – beer and wine, according to the Saeima press-service.
As its authors from the Ministry of Health note in the draft law, excessive alcohol consumption is one of the main risk factors in the world, which negatively affects the health of the population and also threatens the health and safety of those around them. The negative impact of alcohol advertising on the consumption of alcoholic beverages in society, especially among young people, has been extensively studied and proven – it promotes the initiation of the use of alcoholic beverages and increases alcohol consumption among young people who have already consumed alcohol, the authors of the draft law say.
In order to establish comprehensive restrictions on advertising and marketing of alcoholic beverages and discounts (not only on television and radio, but also on the Internet, cinemas, consumer print materials and elsewhere), the Saeima’s Committee on Social and Labour Affairs has already approved amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages at its third reading. The amendments are currently being coordinated by the European Commission.