In Latvia, it is currently prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages on the Internet, but there are websites that still offer to buy them, bypassing the ban and creating conditions of unfair competition in relation to other businesses, the authors of the bill have indicated. Until now, the sale of alcohol on the Internet was allowed for a short time – in the spring during an emergency.
The bill provides for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages on a website or mobile app. This will only be allowed for non-cash payments.
In order to support local producers, it is planned that small alcohol distilleries, which will supply alcoholic beverages purchased or ordered online, will be able to pay in cash, according to the amendments to the law. Small brewers will also be allowed to register a retail website or mobile app if it is possible to pay for the purchase online.
Merchants selling alcohol online will also be required to comply with the statutory ban on the sale and supply of alcoholic beverages from 10 pm to 8 am, as well as the sale and supply of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age.
In order to comply with the statutory age limit, a retailer of alcoholic beverages will have to verify the identity and age of the purchaser before selling and receiving payment, including through the use of qualified electronic identification means, the bill provides.
Fines for both natural and legal persons are imposed for unauthorized retail sale of alcoholic beverages on the Internet.
It is planned that for unauthorized retail sale of beverages away or unauthorized delivery from 22.00 to 8.00 a fine of up to fourteen fine units will be imposed on an employee of a legal person – a courier or other supplier, and a fine of fourteen to two hundred and eighty fine units on a legal person.
On the other hand, for the sale or delivery of alcoholic beverages to a person under 18 years of age, a fine will be imposed on an employee of a legal person – seller, courier or other supplier – from fifty-six to one hundred and forty fine units, and a legal person – from one hundred forty to one thousand four hundred twenty fine units, provides in the bill.
In order for the amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages to enter into force, they must still be adopted by the Saeima in the third reading.
