Is there too much alcohol in this beer? Take a sip and let us know. Photo by Unter Matze.

TALLINN — The Estonian minister of social affairs is lashing out at the country’s alcohol industry for the country’s rampant drinking culture among youth.

In an interview with the Postimees newspaper, Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur chastised Estonian breweries for allegedly making beer that is stronger compared to the beer in Northern European countries.

The concern comes from the fact that alcohol is more popular in the smallest Baltic state than in any other countries in Europe. In 2008 Estonia came in second place for alcohol consumption in Europe, according to the Estonian Institute of Economic Research, who reported in January that the average Estonian consumed 11.9 liters of alcohol in 2008. Meanwhile Pevkur said alcohol use is becoming more popular among young people, despite Estonia’s stricter regulations on alcohol purchasing, such as the over 18 age limit, than in many other European countries.

“We still haven’t established lighter beverages, because compared to Northern countries our beer is still strong,” Pevkur said.

However, both Estonia’s largest beer brewers A. Le Coq and Saku Õlletehas argue no beer stronger than seven percent alcohol is produced. This is from the maximum alcohol percentage set in the ethics code that the beer brewers union decided upon several years ago as only a decade ago 10 to 12 percent beers were not a rare sight in local shops. The most common beers are 4.7 and 5.2 percent strong, and the lightest is 2.9 percent.

“When it comes to the beer market of Northern countries then it is very developed, and it is seen that our market follows the same trend. It means that the consumption of strong beers is decreasing,” Kadri Ärm, marketing director at Saku Õlletehas told Postimees.

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