The minister is against softening the rules on the sale of alcoholic beverages at sports events. A few NGOs have also voiced opposition to the proposal.

Minister Kolar Celarc is convinced: "It's high time to ask the political question in Slovenia – should we help increase the profits of certain groups, or should we increase the financial, social and health burden on our society."

The minister is worried by the figures which say that the economic burden imposed by alcohol in 2011 stood at 242 million euros. That’s more than double the amount from the funds that flowed into the budget from excise duties on alcohol (between 90 and 100 million euros per year). From that around 159 million go to cover health costs.

Alcohol is too available
The head of the Division for the Health Promotion and Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Vesna Kerstin Petrič, says that according to the World Health Organization (WHO) alcohol in Slovenia is too available, mostly due to its price. The WHO sees the solution in the introduction of licensed sellers of alcoholic beverages.

They can wait for those couple of hours during a match
Matej Košir, the head of the Prevention Platform network, says that those going to a sports event will be able to make it for few hours without any alcohol. "What kind of message are we sending to children? That drinking alcohol is acceptable if it's connected to sports. Sports events should be without alcohol and they should be intended for families," is what Košir said.

Košir is calling on MPs to reject the proposed law amendments, which are supposed to be submitted to parliament by the ZaAB Alliance of Alenka Bratušek party next week. The Prevention Platform network would like to see a more comprehensive solution for the issue and tighter regulation and measures regarding alcohol. The network proposes preparing a resolution for a national program in the field of alcohol policies, which would prevent such "airborne attempts from MPs, influenced by the industry".

Too accessible to the young
Tomaž Gorenc, from Youth Network No Excuse, says they strongly oppose any such softening of the law. He says that today alcohol is way too accessible to the young. A survey, conducted by the youth network, says that for 16 and 17 year olds, alcohol is accessible in 92 percent of the cases.

"Most of all it's about the message. If the amendments are passed, the young would get the message that alcohol and sports go hand in hand," is convinced Gorenc.

G. K.; translated by K. J.