Riigikogu made amendments to Alcohol Act to prohibit alcohol lending
The Riigikogu passed with 58 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to the Alcohol Act, initiated by the Government. On the proposal of the Rural Affairs Committee, in the Riigikogu proceedings, an amendment was introduced in the Act according to which alcohol cannot be leased or borrowed on the basis of a contract under the law of obligations.
With the amendment, entry into any contract under the law of obligations, or transferring alcohol or making it available to a consumer in another manner within the framework of economic activities is also deemed to be retail sale of alcoholic beverages. This simplifies later disputes in a situation where it is complicated to ascertain the bases on which alcohol was transferred from one person to another. This also precludes cases where alcohol is made available to a consumer without direct transfer for example by using a parcel machine. The definition of the consumer has also been specified and accordingly the consumer is considered within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act.
