Estonia 2008 update

During the last year Estonia has seen some important developments in alcohol policy. Growing demand from the public, media and civil society to reduce alcohol related harm has forced political powers to deal with the issue.

TAXES
The alcohol tax in Estonia was raised by 10% as of January 2008 and by another 20% in July. Tax rise is an important step which still has to be seen in perspective. According to the Ministry of Finances the average income in Estonia made possible to buy about 30 litres of spirits in year 2000. In 2007 the average Estonian was already able to buy over 60 litres of spirits. So the fast economical growth has in fact reduced the price of alcohol. In unison with that the consumption has grown also. In 2006 per capita consumption number was 11.35; in 2007 – 12.11.

AVAILABILITY
Regulation of hours of alcohol sale has been up to the local governments. During the past couple of years majority of the local governments have limited the alcohol sale till 22.00 or 23.00. Other towns and counties decided not to limit the selling hours at all.
In the summer 2007 Tallinn banned alcohol sale after 20:00. But the neighbouring small town Maardu had no kind of limits, which brought some dangerous drink-driving threats with it self. Many voices demanded governmental regulation so that the situation would be harmonized.
That happened in July 15th 2008. Alcohol retail sale is now banned from 22:00 till 10:00 all over Estonia.

MARKETING
So far alcohol can be advertised in TV as follows: „soft” alcohol can be advertised from 20:00; „strong” alcohol from 21:00. In the spring 2008 the Advertising Act was changed so that from November 2008 all alcohol advertising is allowed from 21.00. Another change - valid also from November 2008 - puts the following message on all alcohol ads: "Caution! This is alcohol."

ALCOHOL POLICY PLAN
The Governments Coalition has agreed to develop a comprehensive alcohol policy plan. It was planned to develop a alcohol policy paper by an inter-ministerial working group. Coalition agreement set fourth quarter of 2007 as a deadline for this paper. According to our knowledge the paper has not found approval from different ministries.