Lithuanian minister calls for improving alcohol control system

Juras Pozela, Lithuania's new minister of health, on Monday suggested introducing more effective control of existing alcohol control policies.

This signals a different direction from previous governmental plans to introduce mandatory treatment for alcohol dependent persons.

"As a minister, I am skeptical about mandatory treatment of alcoholism," Pozela was quoted as saying by ELTA news agency, "We should work on improving the existing system."

Pozela called for ensuring anonymity of persons who address governmental health-care institutions due to alcohol abuse.

The idea of mandatory alcoholism treatment in Lithuania was raised by the former minister of health. Algirdas Butkevicius, Lithuania's prime minister, also said earlier he was in favor of mandatory treatment of alcoholism.

The minister called for more effective control of existing rules in terms of selling alcohol. "It is necessary to implement necessary measures in order to ensure that youngsters under their 18 cannot buy spirits," he said.

In his opinion, more frequent raids to the shops or higher fines for breaking the rules are among the options.

Pozela proposed to implement more strict control of alcohol retail licensing. "We should review the licensing process more frequently as the licenses currently are open-ended; any residents' complaints or involvement of police should be taken into account," the minister underlined.

Lithuanian parliament initiated a set of measures aimed at reducing access to alcohol in the Baltic country, such as alcohol selling time restrictions, reducing number of places selling alcoholic beverages, rapid increase of alcohol prices.

Selling alcohol has been banned in petrol stations since January. As from November, warnings on alcohol's harmful effects to pregnant woman will be obligatory. Enditem