Estonia: Ministries have contradictory opinions upon lifting the minimum alcohol content level of alcoholic drinks

Defying numerous disliking opinions, the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture has pursued its plan to raise the minimum alcohol percentage from 0.5% to 1.2% beyond which a drink can be considered as alcoholic, The Russian Brewers Association cited October 24 the local Eesti Paevaleht.

Sources said that this initiative was at the beginning of abundant interrogations since last winter, when it was introduced in an amendment to the Low on Alcohol.

The Estonian ministry of Economy, Finance and Social Affairs pleaded against this initiative.

“If the ethanol content of the drink goes beyond 1.2%, is there a reason to refer to a 0.5-1.2% alcohol by volume beer as to a refreshing drink?” the Ministry of Economy rhetorically self-interrogated.

25 October, 2006