Russia: On Wednesday, November 10, Russia’s Federation Council rejected a bill that would have restricted the sale and consumption of beer as an alcoholic beverage, Moscow News revealed in a statement. 73 members of the Federation Council voted against the bill, which would ban the sale of beer near children’s facilities and the consumption of beer in public places; 40 members of the upper house of parliament voted for it, the Russian Information Agency Novosti reported.

A special group has been appointed to revise the bill, after which the senate may look at it again, a presidential representative in the senate was quoted as saying. Senators said they feared that the new law would be ineffective, and that teenagers would still continue drinking beer in stairwells and basements. They also feared that the bill would give rise to illegal sale of beer.

A bill banning beer commercials between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. came into effect earlier in September, and the number of ads has already fallen by three-quarters. A ban on the use of people and animals in beer ads will come into effect next year.

Public beer drinking in Russia is widespread. The country’s vodka habit means many don’t consider beer an alcoholic drink and Muscovites can often be seen with a bottle on their way to work in the morning. The distinct lack of affordable restaurants and bars means the trend could be hard to shift.

13 November, 2004