Alcohol control enforcement in Lithuania Gražina Belian, Deputy Director of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department

Lithuania Territory: km2 Population: ~3 millions Capital: Vilnius Joined EU: in 2004 Neighbor countries: Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Russia

The consumption of pure alcohol (100%) Legally sold pure alcohol per capita (liters) * 2011 – 11.9

2008 – The year of Temperance : Lithuanian Parliament announced the year 2008 as the year of Temperance : Lithuanian Government adopted the Temperance year program Core tasks of the Temperance year program : - to make the public more aware of alcohol consumption and consequences - spread temperance ideas

Critical changes critical changes in the alcohol control policy: promotion commercials on radio and TV were limited and banned during daytime; excise duty on alcohol beverages was increased; liability for drunk driving was tightened (fines were increased, expropriation of transport means was introduced), the allowed concentration of alcohol in blood was lowered from 0.4 to 0.2 pro mille for novice drivers; in 2009 the time for sales of alcohol beverages was limited tax exceptions applied on small beer producers were abolished

Enforcement of alcohol control Until the 1 st of April 2011 Uncoordinated implementation by separate institutions Police Department Food and Veterinary service State tobacco and alcohol control department The Customs Department Tax inspectorate Municipal institutions From the 1 st of April 2011 Drug Control Department under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and State Tobacco and Alcohol Control Service under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania were reorganized merging these two institutions

Drug, tobacco and alcohol control department One of main tasks of The Department – enforce and organize enforcement of alcohol control measures

Alcohol control enforcement function Control function Independent together with function other control institutions State interest representation in the causes Violation prevention Licensing and authorization control in municipalities Control institutions supervision - Methodical, informational support (explanatory work about legislation, operating manual case law dissemination - Control coordination - Control problems identification and offering measures to deal with them Legislative proposals for improvement legislative drafting

Criminal offences committed by drunken people 2011 – – – – – 5800 Accidents due to drunk persons fault 2011 – – – – – 616

Cooperation with NGO’s Signing of a contract with National tobacco and alcohol control coalition Signing of a contract with Lithuanian Youth Council Signing of contract with NTAKK. A. Veryga, Z. Martinkus Signing of contract with LYC Š. Frolenko, Z. Martinkus

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