Swiss drinking less alcohol every year
Over the past 20 years, the consumption of alcohol by the Swiss has decreased on average by one per cent per year, reaching 8.5 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2010.
Based on this trend, the government has decided against raising alcohol prices as part of the revision of the law on alcohol, the finance ministry announced on Wednesday.
From 2009 to 2010, consumption of alcohol dropped from 8.6 to 8.5 litres per head. The 1990 level was 10.8 litres.
“The vast majority of the Swiss population has a healthy attitude to alcohol,” a statement from the Swiss finance ministry said.
To tackle the problem of alcohol abuse, the government has decided to limit access to alcohol at night. Retailers will no longer be allowed to sell alcoholic drinks between 10pm and 6am and bars will not be permitted to run promotions selling alcohol below cost.
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