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Russia: Beer sale and consumption are limited in Russia from Friday, April 15 as the corresponding law comes into effect. The restrictions on beer drinking in any public places concern only minors. For the rest, beer drinking is not allowed in placed where its selling is banned -- in public transport and in health, sport, children's, educational, medical and culture centers (except catering places in culture centers), according to Itar-Tass.

The Russian State Duma approved the corresponding bill on February 9 and the Federation Council -followed suit on February 25. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the bill on March 7, 2005.

Regional authorities may determine additional places where beer sale and consumption will be banned. Moscow's authorities have already said they will check how the law is observed in the city. A special commission will deal with it. There are no restrictions for sale of non-alcohol beer. Fines will be imposed for violations of the law.

Under the amendments to the administrative offence code approved by the State Duma only at the first reading so far, a fine equal to one minimum wage will be imposed for beer drinking in public places. The rate is 100 roubles.

The Russian society really needs the law restricting retail sale and consumption of beer that came into force on Friday, but law enforcers should not be allowed to misuse it, State Duma deputies said in a blitz-poll conducted by Itar-Tass on Apirl 15. “It is evident that the Russian public at large is angry about the unrestricted use of alcoholic beverages, including beer,” First Deputy Speaker Lyubov Sliska said. She called for helping the people to develop a taste for what she described as “beer consumption culture.”

“Society needs this law badly,” said Yuri Medvedev, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism. “This law is aimed at protecting the morality and health of the people, mainly those underage.” Medvedev believes that the law “will not bring about any of the lapses that once occurred during the 1985 campaign against hard drinking, when whole vineyards were chopped out, but will contribute to the culture of beer consumption and a healthy lifestyle.”

This law should be followed by a ban on smoking in public places. Sanctions for this offence must be still tighter, the legislator said. Medvedev, too, warned that law enforcers might misuse the law while trying to implement it. Konstantin Zatulin, a member of the Committee on CIS Affairs and Russian Diaspora Relations noted for his part that “it is necessary to keep in mind national traditions” while implementing the law.


17 April, 2005