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Russia: In a major victory for breweries, Russia's Duma, the lower house of parliament, is likely to amend its beer bill to allow adults to drink the beverage on the street, a document obtained by Reuters showed, Reuters commented on February 8. President Vladimir Putin vetoed the bill last month and sent the draft back to parliament.

The original bill sought to ban beer sales on public transport and in cultural and sports buildings as well as near schools. It also forbade drinking beer on the street and in stadiums, parks and on public transport. But on Wednesday, the Duma is likely to approve a bill, which would only ban underage drinkers from imbibing on the street.

The other prohibitions will stay intact, but it will be a major breakthrough for the local beer industry as about a third of beer in Russia is bought for immediate consumption. If the Duma approves the bill, it will need to be approved by the upper house and signed by the president to become law.

The Russian beer market is dominated by foreign producers, with Scottish & Newcastle , SUN Interbrew and Efes being the leaders.


09 February, 2005