Ministers propose measures to help lift ban sooner

The Czech finance and agriculture ministers have come up with proposals on Wednesday that would help alleviate the ban on hard liquor that was instituted on Friday, 14 September. Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek proposed to print new excise stamps, which would be attached to newly produced or imported bottles of alcohol. The new stamps would clearly let consumers know that the alcohol has been produced or imported after the ban and that its origin has been verified. Agriculture minister Petr Bendl said he wants to introduce so-called birth certificates for liquor bottles that would make their origin and ingredients clearly traceable. Prime Minister Petr Nečas said both measures will be part of a government directive that should be ready on Thursday.