Estonian MP suggests payment by card to reduce access to alcohol
Center Party parliamentary group deputy chairman Erki Savisaar finds that a restriction should be weighed which would allow for alcoholic beverages to be purchased by bank card only, reducing youth access to alcohol.
"Payment by bank card would diminish young people's opportunities to purchase alcohol in stores," Savisaar said in a press release.
Quite a few stores still sell alcoholic beverages to those under 18 years of age for cash, but a card transaction would leave a trace of the sale of alcohol to minors, he explained, addeing that the measure would discipline stores as well.
Technical solutions could be improved in a way that would prevent minors from making a card payment when purchasing alcohol, Savisaar noted.
At a meeting with business figures earlier this week, Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis likewise proposed allowing payment for alcohol by bank card only in addition to cutting the number of licensed outlets.
Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS
