VILNIUS -- Lithuania's strange relationship with the bottle has resurfaced again with calls from MPs to simultaneously ban alcohol from parliament and ensure that the wine keeps flowing at official diplomatic functions.
Member of Parliament Antanas Matulas has asked the parliamentary board to ban sales of strong liquor at the Seimas from Dec. 1.
Matulas, Conservative chairman of the parliamentary Health Affairs Committee, suggested that the restaurant and the cafe in the parliament building should only sell beer and unfortified wines.
Matulas had originally tried to get all members of the parliamentary Health Affairs Committee to sign his suggestion, but he failed to attract a single co-signatory.
Then on Nov. 14 the government approved a Foreign Ministry proposal to inventorise the stocks of alcoholic beverages held by diplomatic agencies, to ensure that the booze doesn't stop flowing at official events and cause a nasty diplomatic incident.
Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas said that following Lithuania's accession to NATOand the European Union, the number of official receptions hosted for foreign officials and delegations has increased considerably.
The minister warned that failing to provide the "customary glass of wine" could have negative consequences on Lithuanian foreign policy.
On Sep. 1, Lithuania introduced a one-day ban on alcohol sales throughout the country to mark the return to school. It was widely flouted and adjudged to be a complete failure.
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