More dialog on the amendment of the Sobriety Education Act

pracodawcagodnyzaufania.pl 3 weeks ago

The trade manufacture calls for reasonableness and dialog on the planned amendment of the Law on Sobriety Education and Anti-Alcoholism.

According to the Polish Trade and Distribution Organisation (POHiD), representing the largest commercial networks in Poland, the proposed solution will hit both consumers, workers and legally operating companies. Moreover, specified a revolution does not warrant a shift towards the legislative social nonsubjective and is contrary to the Constitution. Transparency of regulations is crucial for economical operators.

The trade manufacture full supports initiatives to reduce alcohol abuse, especially among minors

The draft amendment provides for a full ban on advertising and promotion of beer, adding a regulation on the sale of alcohol in the evening and night, as well as online sales with a transportation to the customer. Traders indicate that specified far-reaching restrictions will not solve the problem of alcohol abuse. They will make it hard for the legal marketplace to function, deprive entrepreneurs of the opportunities to usage the sales instruments so far allowed and deepen the grey zone.

– The trade manufacture full supports initiatives to reduce alcohol abuse, especially among minors," says Renata Juszkiewicz, POHiD president. – The trade networks themselves carry out anti-sale activities for people under 18. The introduction of a complete ban on advertising and the promotion of alcohol will not solve the problem of abuse. It'll be a blow to trade.

The amendments do not comply with the constitutional rule of proportionality

The proposed form of the bill besides carries another risks. The amendments do not comply with the constitutional rule of proportionality that any interference in the freedom of business should be justified by a serious public interest. Meanwhile, restrictions will not destruct the problem of abuse. This will origin another problems, including the hazard of buying alcohol from illegal sales sources.

Alcohol producers and distributors are companies investing in economy, jobs, local taxes. The proposed simplification in sales, as well as the increased hazard of advanced fines or administrative sanctions, may discourage investment, innovation and sponsorship of socio-cultural events. The planned change besides threatens to reduce the number of jobs or make the situation of alcohol-related workers worse. This besides applies to persons employed in HoReCa, agriculture, as well as marketing and advertising.

Education and dialog alternatively of restrictions

– It is the task of trade to respond to the needs of consumers. The amendment will limit the right of buyers to informed purchasing choices, reduce the availability and variety of products, make comparisons between prices and compositions more hard and could consequence in price increases. It will besides discriminate due to the fact that it will make it harder to buy people with little mobility. The solution to the problems is not to restrict the rights of citizens and to weaken trade, but to advance good industrial practices and to conduct thoughtful and long-term educational activities. liable sales and promotion are the best way to reduce abuse, not repressive regulations," says Renata Juszkiewicz.

The current rules defend minors and susceptible groups while allowing legal producers to present their products in a liable manner. This gives consumers access to information, access to products from certain sources and at the same time are not exposed to excessive or inadequate promotion of alcohol. This strategy ensures a balance between economical freedom and the objectives of preventing addiction. With respect to the amendment of the POHiD Act, it declares its readiness to engage in substantive dialog and cooperation on solutions that will effectively reduce alcohol abuse without harming the marketplace and consumers.