Up to now, while alcohol can be sold online, a bricks-and-mortar store must be present. This has led to the emergence of “phantom” stores, effectively warehouses open only for a limited period of time during the day, in order to qualify for making online sales.

The bill would also provide options to Estonia’s e-residents to operate more freely in the alcohol trade, the bill states.

The bill’s stated aim is to encourage regional entrepreneurship and help local alcohol producers market their goods directly to consumers, and to modernize and reduce bureaucracy.

The bill’s explanatory memorandum states: “Nowadays the requirement for a physical shop has proved unreasonable and ineffective, especially for Estonia’s own small businesses and producers, who lack the opportunity to compete with large retail chains and for whom e-commerce and public events are often the only realistic marketing channels.”

Read more: ERR.EE