Russia: The State Duma gave its first approval on Friday to a bill that would impose limits on the retail beer trade, the RIA-Novosti news agency reports. The bill was passed unanimously by 429 MPs, The Moscow News posted on July 9.

The bill forbids the sale of beer in children’s and educational institutions, in hospitals and sanatoriums, and also in facilities like churches. The trade will also be forbidden on the territory adjacent to the abovementioned institutions. The bill forbids the sale of beer to persons under 18 years of age.

The present law regulating the turnover of alcohol-containing drinks has no mention of beer and this made it necessary for the law to be amended.

Beer consumption in Russia has grown several times since the 1990s. As beer is not formally considered an alcoholic drink, the laws regulating its turnover are very slack. Beer is widely advertised in the press, through outdoor advertising, and on television, and is sold in almost every street kiosk. Beer commercials often appeal to the younger consumer, promoting beer as a party drink.

09 July, 2004