Published on: 2026-09-30
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
September 29, 2026 Healthcare
What happens when buying alcohol becomes a little more difficult? Relatively simple changes in Latvian legislation quickly yielded results, as shown by a study from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The country reduced alcohol sales hours, banned instant delivery of alcohol purchased online, and also restricted promotional campaigns and alcohol sales in gambling establishments. A preliminary assessment conducted by the WHO European Regional Office at the request of the Latvian Ministry of Health showed that in the first five months after the new measures came into effect, alcohol-related mortality significantly decreased.
In the first five months of the measures being in effect – from August 1 to December 31, 2025 – the number of deaths from causes entirely attributable to alcohol, such as alcohol poisoning, alcoholic liver disease, and acute alcoholic pancreatitis, decreased overall by 27 percent. This means that over 60 fatalities were prevented.
“Alcohol consumption continues to seriously affect the health of the population of Latvia, and these initial results show: if actions are based on actual data and the decisions made are responsibly carried out, lives can be saved,” said the Latvian Minister of Health, Hosam Abu Meri.
Key measures
Alcohol is a toxic psychoactive substance that causes dependence, the WHO reminds. It is known to cause at least seven types of cancer, including colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Every year, in the WHO region covering 53 countries of Europe and Central Asia, about 800,000 people die from alcohol-related causes.
Latvia remains one of the world leaders in alcohol consumption per capita: the total volume of consumption reaches 14.2 liters (in terms of pure alcohol) per adult per year. It is estimated that 23.3 percent of the adult population in the country suffer from alcohol-related disorders, while in the European Union (EU) this figure is 10.7 percent. Deaths attributed to alcohol consumption in Latvia account for 18.1 percent of all deaths, compared to 5.2 percent in the EU. The level of alcohol dependence in Latvia, which affects about one in eight adults, is also much higher than the EU average.
“As new data emerges, it will be important to continue evaluating the country’s alcohol policy. But the initial results already point in one direction: if easy access to alcohol is restricted, deaths related to excessive drinking can be prevented, and the population’s health can be protected. This is an important and encouraging lesson for countries with high levels of alcohol consumption,” noted Karina Zalite, head of the WHO country office in Latvia.
Call to action
Currently, Latvia is discussing the results of the 2025 reform and the next steps.
Based on the preliminary assessment, WHO recommends maintaining restrictions on alcohol availability and continuing to monitor their impact. It is especially important to strictly enforce the rules for sales via the internet and phone, as well as to regularly review alcohol taxation, so that as incomes rise, it does not become more affordable.
Among further measures are strengthening the protection of youth and mandatory health warnings, including the risk of developing cancer, on alcoholic beverage labels. This is especially relevant for Latvia, where awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer remains one of the lowest in the EU.
The evaluation results are preliminary. They have been submitted for independent review. Data are currently available for only five months following the reform. To fully assess the impact of the measures on other indicators, including mortality from external causes such as injuries and accidents, as well as intentional self-harm and cardiovascular diseases, a longer period of observation will be required.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.