Tallinn Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski has emphasized the need for long-term structural solutions to address alcohol-related social issues in the capital, rather than superficial measures such as removing benches from public spaces.
“That system still exists in Tallinn today. There are not enough places, of course, and the need is greater, but in principle, people can get help. Now the city mainly deals with it in a law enforcement context in cooperation with the police,” Ossinovski said, referring to support services for individuals struggling with alcohol.
However, he acknowledged the broader social reality: “Naturally, when the weather is nice, people still gather and drink alcohol, often in quantities that lead them to behave inappropriately afterward. This is our societal reality.”
“We have liquor stores literally on every corner.”
— Jevgeni Ossinovski, Mayor of Tallinn
Ossinovski expressed his opposition to proposals aimed at displacing people from public areas by removing seating.
“Then they just settle a bit farther away and do the same thing. It seems like an easy solution, and residents do suggest it, but that way the benches are also taken away from everyone else who could use them at other times,” he said.
Call to Reinstate Alcohol Licensing
Turning to more systemic solutions, the mayor underscored the unchecked availability of alcohol as a key issue.
“One of the most accessible services in Estonia is the liquor store. We have them literally on every corner. The city has proposed to the state that the alcohol licensing system be reinstated, because at the moment, in our very liberal republic, any store can simply notify the business register that it will now sell alcohol and then start doing so. The local government has no means to regulate the matter,” Ossinovski stated.
He added: “Why should we remove benches from Kristiine Center if we could instead get rid of the liquor store there that is causing a social problem?”
Ossinovski, who served as Minister of Health and Labour between 2015 and 2018, recalled the creation of a free treatment system for individuals with alcohol problems during his tenure. He stressed that both reducing the number of alcohol sales points and dispersing large clusters of outlets would be necessary steps.
Increased Oversight of Problem Establishments
He also pointed to renewed efforts by the city to address alcohol-related disturbances originating from specific venues.
“The other thing that the city had not been doing for quite a while, but which we have now started doing systematically this summer, is more effective monitoring of bars associated with public order violations — mainly in the Old Town, but not only there. There are also so-called basement bars in residential districts where similar activities take place. We have already issued orders to various bars in the Old Town,” Ossinovski said.
“We have now started systematically monitoring bars associated with public order violations.”
Youth Congregation Patterns in Kesklinn
The mayor also addressed residents’ concerns about teenagers gathering in central green spaces, particularly Tammsaare Park near the Viru Keskus shopping center.
“Two years ago, the gathering place was Musumägi, last year it was Kanuti Garden. Now it’s Tammsaare Park. There’s a clear reason for this movement. After Musumägi was renovated, proper lighting and police cameras were installed there. We drove through with a police patrol, and there was not a single person there, because young people understand they are under police surveillance,” he explained.
“They then moved to Kanuti Garden, the police also put that area under greater supervision, and now they have moved to the next place,” he continued.
“Tammsaare Park also needs more lighting and cameras, and then they will move away from there as well, but naturally no one doubts that they will then move to another green space in central Tallinn,” Ossinovski concluded.
Read more via ERR
