BERN, SWITZERLAND – The economics committee of the upper house of the Swiss parliament has decided to bury a proposed revision to the laws governing alcohol sales, after its legal counsel said it would be unconstitutional. The revision would also make it virtually impossible to negotiate treaties, for example with the European Union.

It called on the Federal Council to propose a new revision which would be restricted to just two uncontested areas: regulations covering the ethanol market, to free it; and returning the Swiss Alcohol Board to the Customs Office.

The revised legal changes were proposed by the lower house of parliament and can be dismissed only if both houses agree; the upper house committee is asking its opposite number for the agreement of its own legal counsel.