Latvija in brief - 2012-04-05

Latvia lags other European countries in yet another key indicator - beer consumption. Guzzling brew in Latvia increased on average by 15 percent per person last year, reaching 81 liters per person, reports Nozare.lv. Aigars Andersons, spokesman for the Latvian alcoholic beverage portal iedzert.com, said “Last year, beer consumption per resident reached 81 liters, compared to 70 liter in 2010. We are still behind traditional beer drinking countries. For example, beer consumption in the Czech Republic was 150 liter per resident last year, and in Germany - 109 liters. However, we must also take into account that hard liquor is still popular in Latvia; however, this trend is also gradually changing,” Andersons said, as beer and drinks with lower alcohol content are becoming more popular.

1,200 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year, the highest number over the past 30 years, Latvian Oncology Center Breast Disease Clinic head Janis Eglitis said, reports LETA. The number of early case diagnoses slightly increased last year. The sooner breast cancer is detected the more efficient its treatment, emphasized Eglitis. According to the current data on 2011, breast cancer was the most widespread oncological disease last year. Previously, it was lung cancer.

Electronic identity cards (eID) began to be issued on April 2 in Latvia at the branches of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, reports LETA. Unlike a passport, an eID enables user identity verification on the Internet as well as use of the opportunities offered by the electronic signature, the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office’s public relations officer Andrejs Rjabcovs said. The fee for taking out an eID is 10 lats, whereas the fee for youths, pensioners and disabled is 5 lats. Almost 850 persons registered for the new electronic identity cards on the first day they became available.