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This issue was debated on Wednesday in the program “Delfi Tema”.
One of the authors of the proposals to waive alcohol-related bans, liberal Andrius Bagdon, disagrees with the argument that there is no need to deviate from bans because people have gotten used to them.
“Once upon a time, people were transported to Siberia, and people used to live there. That does not mean that it is fair and honest. The consumption of alcoholic beverages in Lithuania has been decreasing since 2008. Up to three governments have contributed to this, so that people in Lithuania consume less alcohol.
However, we believe that the previous government, which also contributed to the decline in beverage consumption, has introduced certain prohibitions or excessive restrictions, ”said A. Bagdon.
According to him, the new proposals are aimed at restoring justice.
“The main suggestions are to have a work schedule on Sundays from 10 to 20, like any normal day. A colleague registered an amendment in the Seimas that should be marketed from 12 noon to 8 pm. , is supposed to allow people to be sober for at least half a day on Sunday. I do not share that opinion. I say that people should be encouraged not to drink alcohol seven days a week, in an educational way, ”Bagdon said.
He also mentioned that there is an offer for old censorship.
“We believe that if a person becomes an adult, he is responsible for himself, for his actions, he must also have the rights to be a resident on an equal basis and have the opportunity to buy alcoholic beverages. I don’t encourage you to do that, but a person should have those rights, “said A. Bagdon.
According to the parliamentarian, certain advertising exemptions are also proposed so that companies or producers that provide information about themselves, scientific and historical information, production, traditions, deserved awards, have the opportunity to provide that information.
“It just came to our attention then. It would just be an opportunity to get acquainted with it,” said A. Bagdon.
The liberal also noted that at the time of the introduction of the quarantine and the opening of many outdoor cafes in Vilnius, and the possibility of cafes installing tables in public spaces, it became clear that often 40 meters was not enough distance. Of the point. selling.
“We are proposing to introduce a distance of 80 meters so that both businessmen and residents can take advantage of this opportunity offered by the municipality,” Bagdon said.
The authors of the proposals propose to resolve certain provisions, in their opinion, ambiguous, when a license can be marketed for an alcoholic beverage up to 22 degrees, another indicates 15 degrees and others more, even 13 degrees.
“The objective would be to unify and introduce a medium size. The proposal is 15 degrees so there are no ambiguities, ”said A. Bagdon.
Says youth
According to the Liberal, the proposals will not worsen the public health situation.
“Because the results have improved since 2008 without these additional prohibitions, without Sunday, without restricting the consumption of alcohol by young people. It often happens that young people themselves graduate from school, graduate, drink alcohol, whether we like it or not. More educational activities are needed to make them consume less alcohol, ”said A. Bagdon.
It seems wrong to him that these young people are becoming criminals.
“In our opinion, adulthood is the age limit when a person should become a full-fledged Lithuanian citizen and have every opportunity,” said A. Bagdonas.
In his opinion, these issues should be regulated not through prohibitions, but to promote citizens’ trust in the state.
Outraged by the comparison to exile
Aurelijus Veryga, initiator of the stricter alcohol control policy, former health minister, member of parliament for the “green peasants” group in the Seimas, and abstainer for life.
On the show, he recalled that he himself tried alcohol even before he came of age, and said that his example should not be followed.
“I was a child, a teenager when Lithuania took the first steps towards independence. Then there was a special situation. It was a very difficult time for Lithuania, all the control institutions collapsed. It was a time when simply imported spirits from different countries were traded on the market without any supervision.
I had to live in a time like this, being a child, and of course my experience is by no means untraceable. I started using alcohol when I was a minor. I have been told that adults suggested that I use it, who at the time probably did not understand all the risks involved, ”said A. Veryga.
The politician believes that in the current situation (considering the mentality, current perception) he would behave differently and follow the procedures that are established in Lithuania.
“I completely disagree with my colleague that such public health measures, which are based on science and for which Lithuania is highly appreciated by the World Health Organization (WHO), can in some way be compared to the transport of people to Siberia. People have never accepted transportation to Siberia. This is the repression against the people. I think such a comparison is at least unethical for young children, “said A. Veryga.
I don’t understand how the proposals will reduce consumption
The former minister says that alcohol consumption in Lithuania had several trends.
“It has grown each time alcohol control policies have been liberalized and has decreased each time science-based alcohol controls have been implemented,” Veryga said.
According to the politician, if it is accepted that such measures work, then one must agree with the statement that after the liberalization of the situation, consumption will increase again.
“I find it strange that nowhere, in any of the proposals, is the primary purpose of the Alcohol Control Act itself mentioned. (…) The objective is to reduce the global consumption of alcohol and the damage it causes. If a colleague could say how liberalizing the age of advertising, selling and buying alcoholic beverages will reduce alcohol consumption and the harm it causes, then perhaps I would even support those proposals, ”said A. Veryga.
See no logic to undo restrictions
A politician in favor of stricter regulation of alcohol has defended himself by not really treating everyone as sick.
“Only, God forbid, no one considers everyone to be sick. Each of those tools in question has its own purpose, it has its own audience. It is very wrong to take one of the measures out of context and present it as not solving the problem, ”said A. Veryga.
Suppose that advertising bans, according to the interlocutor, affect people with addiction problems very minimally, although it also works a little.
“A daily alcohol reminder for an addicted person, even if he is currently trying to solve the problem, does not help him to stop drinking,” Veryga said.
However, according to him, the basis of this insurance is not addicted people, but those who currently do not use.
“It means not creating an image of alcohol use for them as a particularly desirable or acceptable social phenomenon,” Veryga explained.
Sales time, he says, is already related to other groups of people.
“Scandinavians don’t sell alcohol at all on Sundays. It’s sold short on Saturdays, even shorter on weekdays than we do. But no one says that Scandinavians consider their citizens to be sick, and once we get there, our fellow citizens can adapt. The more those countries consider themselves the happier in the world, “said A. Veryga.
However, according to him, we are similar.
Our polls don’t even show that the population has reconciled. They notice positive things. They noticed that their living environment had become safer, that there was less noise, there was no aggression. As a result, support for all these provisions of the law is increasing, ”said A. Veryga.
At the same time, he pointed to warnings from scientists that the postwar situation would be difficult.
“The mental health of society, sadly, is deteriorating. Alcohol is one of the risk factors that can contribute to further deterioration. In this situation, the parties were warned not only not to mitigate, but to think in measures that can protect the public. It seems that we are going in the opposite direction, “said A. Veryga.
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