Maaleht wrote that the state wants to examine the sales license system.
The head of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Brigitta Õunmaa, said that if sales licenses become paid, flower shops and other small stores may no longer apply for them.
The price of the sales license has not yet been decided. The price will be determined after an analysis that examines the experiences of other countries.
Õunmaa said that in other countries, obtaining a sales license costs about 200 euros per year. This would make entrepreneurs consider whether selling alcohol is necessary for them.
Additionally, a paid sales license would help keep registry data in order.
Õunmaa said that Estonia should consider the experiences of other countries. For example, in some countries, the price of a sales license depends on the density of sales outlets in the region: the more sales outlets, the more expensive the license.
Also, in several countries, there are requirements that individuals convicted criminally cannot obtain an alcohol sales license. Mandatory training for sales staff selling alcohol is also common.
Maaleht wrote that implementing a paid sales license will take time. It requires lengthy preparation: a development plan must be drafted, stakeholders involved, and the bill process completed.
It also depends on a political decision.
Maaleht emphasized that the number of alcohol sales outlets in Estonia this year has grown to over 10,000. This is more per capita than in Latvia and Lithuania.