Is the population continuing to drink themselves to death? 0 8

Let us remind you that new restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages came into effect on August 1: the hours for selling alcohol have been reduced, including through alcohol delivery orders, advertising for all alcoholic beverages has been banned, as well as marketing promotions. And today, the first results of this new wave of "opposition" to the green serpent were discussed by members of the National Council on Alcoholism Reduction under the Ministry of Health.

"Since the introduction of a number of restrictions aimed at reducing the availability of alcohol and limiting advertising, including the reduction of alcohol trading hours, less than three months have passed. Health Minister Hosam Abu Meri noted that "changes in people's habits do not occur in the short term, and, accordingly, three months is insufficient time to judge the impact on consumption indicators. At the same time, the minister reported that an assessment of the impact of the adopted amendments on public health indicators has begun in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), which is planned to be submitted to the Saeima by October 31, 2026. According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, registered consumption of pure alcohol in Latvia in 2024 remains high: 12 liters per person aged 15 and older, while the number of newly registered patients with diagnoses of mental and behavioral disorders caused by alcohol has increased by about 8% since 2020. Of these, nearly half are cases of alcohol dependence, with the proportion of women with these diagnoses increasing.

At the same time, the prevalence of alcohol consumption among 15-16-year-old schoolchildren has significantly decreased; however, with the reduction in attempts and consumption of alcohol, doctors observe attempts to substitute alcohol with various substances and technologies, including gambling. Alcohol consumption and experiences of drunkenness among girls are no longer rare — it is now equal to the consumption of alcohol by boys, and in many indicators, it is higher. Among all Latvian schoolchildren, 78% have tried alcohol at least once in their lives. Girls have tried alcohol more often than boys. At the same time, in Latvia, early attempts at alcohol are characteristic among adolescents, with 40% of schoolchildren having tried alcoholic beverages at the age of 13 or younger.

At the same time, the head of the Latvian Association of Traders, Henrik Danusevich, reported that the amendments to the law most acutely affect small food trading places, and their turnover and, consequently, income are decreasing. As a result, about 10% of them have already completed or will cease their activities in the near future.