Experts call for ban on alcohol sales at street stands

Prague, Oct 8 (CTK) - The Czech emergency committee on methanol proposes a ban on the sales of alcohol at stands and from vending machines, stricter punishments for serving alcohol to juveniles and a loss of the trade licence for forging stamps and alcohol "birth certificates," Health Minister Leos Heger said Monday.

The committee called on sellers not to destroy bottles without documents on the origin of spirit before they receive final instructions from the Finance Ministry and the Customs Administration.

"Some sellers are liquidating bottles where they are unable to gain documents on the origin of birth, or the "birth certificate," but instructions have not yet been definitively completed, Heger said.

Alcohol is to be destroyed via the Customs Administration. The sellers who do not wait for the valid instructions could lose compensation for taxes paid, Heger said.

The legislative measures will be prepared by a commission the government has set up. It comprises deputies of the ministries concerned.

Heger said there seems to be agreement on many changes. He said stands could sell alcohol at exceptional events, such as Christmas markets and they would have to be permitted by the respective municipality.

The Finance Ministry is planning punishments for the forging of stamps and documents on the origin of alcohol.

The methanol scandal broke out one month ago. Methyl alcohol has cost 28 lives. The 28th victim was found dead in south Moravia last week. The autopsy proved the man died from methanol poisoning.

Tens of people were hospitalised. Some of the cured went blind. Currently, there are eight people with methanol poisoning in hospital, Heger said.

The sales and serving of drinks with more than 20 percent of alcohol were banned for a fortnight in September and exports of the drinks were also banned. Now the sales of alcoholic beverages produced before the start of the year and those with a proved origin of spirit can be sold and exported.