Advertising, Alcohol, Estonia, Health, Legislation, Markets and Companies

The Ministry of Justice had no real arguments and Reinsalu hid behind technical argumentations, Ossinovski told BNS on Thursday evening, adding that some of the comments were still sensible and would be taken into account. According to Ossinovski the government has already reached a principled consensus regarding alcohol consumption restrictions.

"Definitely no new bill would be drawn up, principled changes made or positions changed. The Social Ministry will thoroughly analyze Reinsalu's comments this week and will take an amended bill to the Cabinet next week. There we will make necessary changes and send it to the parliament," Ossinovski said.

According to Ossinovski the aim of the bill is to change the social norm that over-consumption of alcohol is normal. He said that the ministry does not intend to make any compromises regarding since the bill already is a reasonable compromise between different fields connected to the sector.

Estonia's Justice Minister Urmas Reinsalu did not approve Health and Labor Minister Jevgeni Ossinovski's plans for restricting the advertising and sale of alcohol saying the bill of amendments did not sufficiently prove the need for and expediency of the planned measures.

The Ministry of Justice supports the bill's objective to protect public health from the risks of alcohol consumption, but the objective should be achieved in a way that burdens the society the least and is the most cost-effective, Reinsalu said.