President rejects high-profile alcohol bill

Mar 05, 2010
Oskars Magone

The bill would have introduced an accross the board alcohol ban on Sept. 1.

RIGA - Latvian President Valdis Zatlers has refused to sign off on a controversial bill that would ban all alcohol sales in the country -- including in bars, hotels and cafes -- on September 1.

The date marks the first day of school and is commonly referred to as "knowledge day". The aim of the bill was to prevent school-age children from drinking on the first day of school.

Following outcry from bar adn cafe operators, Zatlers on Friday sent the bill back to parliament for futher debate.

In addition to the negative effect on businesses in the country, critics say that it is alredy illegal for children to purchase alcohol adn that the measure would not prevent children from buying alcohol the day before so that they can still drink on Sept. 1.

"The proposal to prohibit the retail sale of alcoholic beverages on September 1 was made and supported without discussing it with the responsible authorities, whose responsibility is to control the circulation of alcoholic beverages and public policy, nor with the retailers, as that provision affects them in the most direct way,"the rpesident said in a press release on his website.

The bill passed through parliament earlier this week. The president has now asked that the legislature discuss the implications of the law with local shopkeepers.

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