BCD participates in forming the agenda on overcoming the problem of alcoholism in Belarus
The Belarusian Christian Democrats together with MP Anna Kanopatskaya, Sweden’s ambassador to Belarus, Christina Johannesson, representatives of government ministries and civil organisations discussed proposals to amend the legislation on sale of alcohol regulation on the territory of Belarus at the round table meeting in Minsk on 7 December 2018. The event was organised at the initiative of the member of House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Mrs. Anna Kanopatskaya, the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party with the participation of the Institute for Development and Social Market.
The round table was attended by the BCD co-chairpersons Vital Rymasheuski and Volha Kavalkova, representatives of the Ministry of antimonopoly regulation and trade, the state labour inspection department of the Ministry of labour and social protection of population, “Belgospischeprom” state food industry concern, “Guild of Brewers” union, Center of Mental Health, Minsk Regional Clinical Center “Psychiatry and narcology”, Belarusian production association for oil and gas “Belorusneft”, as well as representatives of public and religious organisations.
The purpose of the round table was to discuss the situation with the problem of alcohol abuse among the population of Belarus, necessary measures of legal regulation to be taken in the sphere of circulation of alcohol, as well as the exchange of experience of Sweden and Lithuania in overcoming this problem. The exchange of views resulted in the initiative to work together to develop legislative proposals and further discuss those in a common platform.
Volha Kavalkova said: “Despite the fact that some participants of the round table were holding conflicting positions, all were agreed that it is necessary to take further measures to reduce alcohol consumption in Belarus. It was a very constructive conversation. We decided to continue the joint work on the development of legislative proposals.”
Vital Rymasheuski noted: “Belarusian Christian Democracy Party implements the campaign against alcoholism among Belarusian citizens over past three years and collected more than 30,000 signatures in favour of the measures limiting the availability of alcohol and measures in support of social and church organisations that help get rid of alcohol addiction. Despite the fact that some steps were taken, there is still a huge problem of excessive alcohol consumption in out country.”
In 2017, Belarusian Christian Democrats organised a series of events with the participation of representatives of the Belarusian authorities on various topics including both the problems of changing the domestic legislation and international cooperation.
