An interagency commission of the Estonian government has proposed several measures to reduce the consumption of alcohol in the country, ERR reports. The commission has published a framework plan for Estonia’s alcohol policy for 2026-2035. The document calls for raising the alcohol excise tax, shortening retail alcohol sales hours, reducing the number of licensed outlets, banning alcohol sales near schools and kindergartens, and tightening rules on advertising. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs is considering the introduction of fees for alcohol sales permits, which are now issued free of charge, ERR reports. Currently, there are more than 10,000 outlets selling alcohol across Estonia. The ministry said that the planned new measures were aimed at reducing health and societal costs, ERR reported.
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