For 140,000 Euros, a Study Will Examine How Much Alcohol Residents of Estonia and Lithuania Buy in Latvia 0 17

The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) has announced a procurement for conducting a study on how residents of Estonia and Lithuania purchase alcoholic beverages in Latvia. The maximum cost of the contract will be 140,000 euros excluding VAT.

The study is planned to last several years and is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. Its main goal is to determine what portion of the official alcohol consumption statistics in Latvia is made up of purchases by foreign buyers, primarily from neighboring countries.

The issue has not only statistical significance. According to the CDPC, in 2024, the registered consumption of pure alcohol in Latvia amounted to 12 liters per resident over the age of 15. This figure remains one of the highest in Europe.

However, experts have long pointed out that a portion of the alcohol sold in Latvia is actually consumed outside the country. Residents of Estonia and Lithuania are particularly active in purchasing alcohol in Latvia, attracted by more favorable prices and differences in excise policies.

If the volumes of such purchases can be more accurately determined, it will allow for a more precise assessment of the actual alcohol consumption by Latvian residents and help plan public health measures.

As part of the project, residents of Estonia and Lithuania aged 18 to 74 who have purchased alcohol in Latvia will be surveyed. Researchers will investigate how often they visit the country, what beverages they buy, in what volumes, and why they choose Latvian stores. Special attention will be paid to border regions, where a significant portion of so-called alcohol tourism is traditionally concentrated.

The work will be carried out in three stages — in 2027, 2028, and 2029. In addition to the surveys, the contractor will need to develop a new methodology for calculating the volume of pure alcohol purchased by foreigners in Latvia.

Disputes have already arisen around the project. Earlier, the Procurement Monitoring Bureau required changes to the tender conditions following a complaint from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The reason was an attempt by the Ministry of Health to limit the participation of organizations and specialists who have ever collaborated with the alcohol industry. The agency explained this by the desire to avoid potential conflicts of interest and ensure the independence of the study.

However, the commission of the Procurement Monitoring Bureau deemed some of the restrictions excessive. In particular, the requirement for the absence of any ties to the alcohol industry since 1990 was considered disproportionate to the subject of the procurement.

After adjusting the conditions, the tender has been re-announced. The winner will be selected based on the criterion of the lowest price proposal.

Thus, the authorities hope to obtain a more accurate picture of how much alcohol is actually consumed in Latvia and how much is taken out by buyers from neighboring countries.