The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR) has submitted a statement to the Icelandic Parlament regarding a bill to amend the Alcohol Act and believes that this entails a complete change of policy in Iceland and a failure of preconditions for ÁTVR's monopoly.

The company says in it's statement that the cornerstone of Iceland's alcohol policy since 1922 has been the operation of a monopoly with obvious public health and social arguments, to limit access to alcohol and thus counteract abuse and harmful effects. Numerous studies and experiences of other nations show beond doubt that increased accessibility leads to increased consumption which again leads to greater harm to society.

The bill now indicates that the retail sale of alcohol would be restriction free, which would be contrary to the current alcohol policy. It also indicates that it is not possible to allow restricion free sale of alcohol and at the same time claim that ÁTVR is a monopoly.

ÁTVR's comment on the current bill is attached (in icelandic).