Latvia

 

This page contains information on statutory alcohol marketing
regulations in Latvia (table 1); a description of the restrictions 
peridium (table 2); labelling information (table 3); information on non-statutory alcohol marketing regulations (table 4); the complaints procedure; a summary about the Latvian regulations on alcohol marketing and exhaustive, downloadable documents from the ELSA & FASE research projects.

Updated March 2022



Table 1Statutory Alcohol marketing regulations in LatviaCoverage
justicebnw Alkoholisko dzērienu aprites likums
(Law on Alcoholic beverage circulation)
TV, radio, sponsoring, outdoor
Reklāmas likums (Advertisment law)TV, radio, sponsoring, outdoor, print
Elektronisko plašsaziņas līdzekļu likums (Electronic Mass Media Law)Electronic mass media
Table 2 Regulations per mediumType of statutory restrictions
TVTelevisionBan on advertising for alcohol beverages, except for wine and beer (Section 36 (1) Electronic Media Law implementing the AVMS Directive)
Youth protection policy (Article 11 (2) Law on Alcoholic
beverage circulation; (Article 5 Advertisement law; Section 36 (2) Electronic Media Law implementing the AVMS Directive)
Content restrictions (Article 11 (1) Law on Alcoholic
beverage circulation; (Section 36 (2) Electronic Media Law implementing the AVMS Directive)
RadioMusic-Radio-iconBan on advertising for alcohol beverages, except for wine and beer (Section 36 (1) Electronic Media Law implementing the AVMS Directive)
Youth protection policy (Article 11 (2) Law on Alcoholic beverage circulation; Article 5 Advertisement law; Section 36 (2) Electronic Media Law implementing the AVMS Directive)
Content restrictions (Article 11 (1) Law on Alcoholic beverage circulation; Section 36 (2) Electronic Media Law implementing the AVMS Directive)
Outdoor marketingOutdoor AdvertisingYouth protection policy (Article 11 (2) Law on Alcoholic

Advertising of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in educational and medical institutions, on and in public transport; on public means of transport and therein; in environmental advertisements. ( Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law”, section 11, art. (3))
Youth protection policy (Article 5 Advertisement law)
Printed mediaPrint mediaAdvertising of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on the covers of books, magazines, newspapers, on letter correspondence and postal parcel items.
( Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law”, section 11, art. (3))
Youth protection policy (Article 5 Advertisement law)
CinemaCinemaNone
Internet/digital mediaOnlineSince 2020 online purchasing of alcoholic beverages is allowed.( “Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law”, section 5, art. (51))
Promotional itemssales promotionsSince 2018 it is prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages with an absolute alcohol content not exceeding 5.8 per cent by volume in packages larger than 1 liter (large plastic bottles), while beverages over 5.8 per cent by volume with a volume greater than 0.5 liter. (does not apply to glass, metal, wood, ceramics, complex packaging).
("Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law”, section 6, Art (13))
(Sports) sponsorshipsponsorshipBan on alcohol advertising at sport events, if the
information on sponsoring contains information about an alcoholic
beverage (except the name of the sponsor) and alcoholic beverage
use (Article 11 (2) Law on Alcoholic
beverage circulation)
Youth protection policy (Article 5 Advertisement law)
OtherSince 2014 a ban on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in social care institutions and service hotels of educational institutions, as well as in the premises of state and local government institutions, except for the premises of cultural and sports institutions and their territory. (“Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law”, section 6, Art (1))
Table 3 Labelling informationDescriptionLegally binding or self-regulation
Health warnings:Yes, information that warns about the negative consequences of alcohol
use is included in alcoholic beverage advertisement. This information
must cover at least 10% of the specific ad (Article 10 Law on Alcoholic beverage circulation)
Legally binding
Ingredients/nutritional informationNo
Table 4 Non-statutory Alcohol marketing regulations in LatviaCoverage
There are no non-statutory regulations on alchol marketing in LatviaNone

The Ministry of Health will implement an unprecedented study “On Alcohol Use, Its Consequences and Economic Benefits of Prevention in Latvia” in 2022. An assessment of the harm caused by alcohol would make it possible to identify the extent of the problem and become the basis for the implementation of prevention policy instruments.

Latvia has outlined a plan to reduce alcoholic beverage consumption and reduce alcohol use to be implementated from 2020 to 2022.   Click the link to view  the “Plan on Alcoholic Beverages Consumption Reduction and Alcohol Use Disorder Reduction for 2020 – 2022.”  https://likumi.lv/ta/id/316448-par-alkoholisko-dzerienu-paterina-mazinasanas-un-alkoholisma-ierobezosanas-ricibas-planu-20202022-gadam

The following document contains an in depth (but older) overview of alcohol marketing regulations in Latvia: alcohol-marketing-regulations-Latvia.pdf

For even more (but older) information on alcohol marketing regulations in Latvia, please take a look at Latvia’s appendix to the 2007 ELSA (Enforcement of national Laws and Self-regulation on advertising and marketing of Alcohol) report.

For more information about the Latvian regulations contact: Elena Zviedre, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia (elena.zviedre@vm.gov.lv) or vm@vm.gov.lv