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Lithuanian fuel stations to stop selling alcohol within two months

Xinhua, November 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday decided fuel stations in the country would no longer be allowed to sell alcohol as of Jan. 1, 2016.

Lithuanian fuel retailers backed by a group of politicians had proposed to extend the permission to sell alcohol at fuel stations until 2019.

A prohibition on alcohol sales in fuel stations was initially implemented in 2011 with a four-year transitory period for retailers to adapt to the changes.

"During this period, entities were able to prepare for the prohibition," said the Parliamentary Health Committee on Health Affairs in its conclusions.

Representatives of fuel retailers argue the prohibition will force them to lay off one third of their employees.

The prohibition was initiated amid efforts to restrict alcohol consumption in Lithuania. In 2013, annual alcohol consumption amounted to 14 liters per capita, the highest rate among 44 countries in the OECD.

The prohibition also aims to cut the number of deadly road accidents caused by drunk driving.

According to the European Commission, in 2014 road fatality rate per million residents in Lithuania amounted to 90 and was the fourth highest among the EU member states. Endit