Ott Tammik, ERR News
Coalition parties are at odds over a proposed all-out ban on the advertising of alcoholic beverages on television, radio and in outdoor media.

Though drafted by the opposition Centre Party, the bill has at least one friend in the ruling coalition. Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder, a member of IRL, said Estonia has done well in reducing its binge drinking, but that more measures need to be taken, Postimees reported.

But the Minister of Culture, a member of the Reform Party, disagrees. In a statement he said: "The Minister of Culture believes that prohibiting alcohol advertising would not yield the desired effect because Estonia re-broadcasts many television and radio programs from other countries, which will not comply with Estonian law." The statement was also signed by Minister of Education Jaak Aaviksoo.

In February, the World Health Organization ranked Estonia sixth in the world for alcohol consumption.

Märkmed: