Advertising, Alcohol, Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

The draft law that the Ministry of Social Affairs introduced on Monday will enforce a rigid control on the advertising of alcohol. According to this, the state wants to completely ban outdoor advertising of alcohol, happy hours in pubs and from 2017, sale of alcohol in petrol stations, because driving and alcohol do not go together.

While stores are currently selling alcohol alongside with other goods, by 2018, supermarkets have to set up separate alcohol departments because alcohol sales alongside with other food goods will be banned. The so-called vodka department walls must be non-transparent and smaller shops have to place alcohol on a separate counter behind the sales person.

According to the bill, alcohol product advertising would be allowed to feature only the name and type of the beverage, the manufacturer's name, brand, country of origin, geographical area, the ethanol content, image of the sales of packaging and the taste and aroma, colour can be described.

Alcohol advertising ban on TV channels will be extended from 7:00 to 21:00 to 7:00 to 22:00. The local government is granted the right to impose additional restrictions on the sale of alcohol in catering venues. Alcohol tasting is shops will be banned.