Swiss move to legalize absinthe

ZURICH, Switzerland, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A Swiss government commission has acted to make it legal to drink, sell and manufacture the often banned alcoholic beverage absinthe in Switzerland.

The economic commission of the Swiss federal council has ruled that all laws and ordinances to ban the strong herbal liqueur should be struck from the books to pave the way for the production, distribution and taxation of the trendy green drink, according to Swiss newspaper the Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

The commission said correctly manufactured absinthe, banned in the United States and much of Europe, poses no greater public health risk than other alcoholic beverages, despite the drink's reputation for toxicity.

Once legalized, absinthe sales would be more likely to contribute to tax-funded initiatives to curb alcohol abuse, according to the commission. Furthermore, absinthe production would create jobs in Switzerland.

The drink has already been mostly decriminalized in Switzerland and is widely available there.

The commission's proposal now faces consideration by the Swiss Council of States and Federal Assembly.