Alcohol, Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

The court found that the city government's decision was lawful and there are no grounds to annul it, spokesperson for the court Anneli Vilu told BNS.

Representative of the company that owns two bars on the Suur-Karja Street, Labor and Labor 2, Rando Sainas told BNS that they received information regarding the court's decision from the media and they had not had time to get familiar with it. He added that they will decide later whether to annul the decision or not. The decision can be appealed until April 27.

The Tallinn city government in October decided to impose economic activity restrictions on 10 bars mainly situated in Suur- Karja Street in the Old Town, and the restrictions include a ban to sell alcohol from Monday to Friday from midnight to 5 a.m. and from Saturday to Sunday from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. The restrictions concern Nimeta bar, Shooters, St. Patrick, Labor, Labor 2, Route 13, Valli bar, Taco Express, Dubliner and Bayern Bohmen Keller.

Representatives of the ten bars in November lodged a complaint with the ministers of economy and justice, saying that notably shortening the opening hours of the bars would mean that their business operations would suffer.