Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Minister of Finance Martin Helme (EKRE) said on Thursday that as a result of lowering excise duty rates on alcohol, sales on Estonia’s northern border have increased, indicating that Finnish tourists are once again buying more alcohol to take back with them from Estonia. Speaking at the government press conference on Thursday, Helme said that initial figures are very encouraging, adding that it seems to him as though the government’s…
Lithuania’s alcohol control policy based on bans and tax increases has failed to have any major influence on consumption habits, according to a survey carried by scientists from Vilnius University. VU scientist Algirdas Bartkus is calling for the reduction of excises on all alcoholic beverages. “If we take a look at the excise policy, so it should not be satisfying in essence. The existing excise level is incompatible with income…
Road accidents, fighting in the streets and in bars, broken shop windows and cars, mountains of garbage, sexual harassment – this is the “Westworld” for NATO soldiers in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. On June 7, 2018, four armored personnel carriers of the US Army, Stryker, collided in a major road accident in the Prienai district. 13 US troops sought medical assistance. Another accident happened on the night of June 9…
After Estonia’s decision to reduce its excise tax on alcohol, alcohol sales in the border town of Valka have fallen, but not as dramatically as initially expected, Valka Mayor Vents Krauklis told Latvian Radio on Wednesday morning. Krauklis said that alcohol sales have dropped by about ten percent. According to Krauklis, Estonia’s main aim in reducing the excise tax on alcohol was to regain so-called alcohol tourists from Finland, which…
In the first five months of 2019, a total of 21 708 million litres of alcoholic drinks (except beer) was produced in Latvia, which is 2% more when compared to the same period of 2018, according to data from the State Revenue Service’s (SRS) compiled information on excise tax. In the first five months of 2019, a total of 25.36 million litres of alcoholic drinks (aside from beer) was commissioned…
On Monday, 8 July, Latvia’s Saeima approved in the final reading amendments to the Excise Tax Law by 15%, reducing excise tax rate for strong alcohol. Amendments will come to force from 1 August 2019 until 29 February 2020. 51 Saeima deputies voted in favour of the legislative draft and 31 voted against. Authors of the legislative draft explained that amendments are needed because changes in Estonia’s alcohol market will…
A law to amend the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act that stepped into effect in Estonia on Monday cuts the rates of the excise duty on beer, cider and strong alcohol by 25%, informed LETA/BNS. It appears from the accompanying notes of the bill that the purpose of lowering the duties is giving business operators an opportunity to cut alcohol prices in order to curb cross-border trade…
Two men were detained by Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) personnel Sunday night/Monday morning, following the death of a 16-year-old boy whose body was found inside a burning house in Tartu County in the small hours of Monday, Baltic News Service Reports. The two men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are aged 21 and 22 and are being held as murder suspects, BNS reports. An emergency services…
Latvia’s Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš has discussed with Estonia’s Prime Minister Jüri Ratas the need to resolve the alcohol excise tax issue by all Baltic States together, said the leader of Latvia’s government at a press-conference on Tuesday, 25 June. Estonia’s prime minister agreed that this would be an appropriate solution, said his Latvian counterpart. Kariņš explained that «everyone should understand that this is not a primarily a health issue…
The Finnish Grocery Trade Association and alcohol producers said that Estonia’s plan to lower the excise duties on beer, cider and spirits, ostensibly to curb cross-border trade between it and Latvia, requires an immediate response. The coalition put a bill before the Riigikogu Monday to reduce excise duties, long the brunt of criticism for driving customers, not only from Estonia but also from Finland, south of the border to Latvian…
