MOSCOW, January 1 (Itar-Tass) —— The Moscow authorities have imposed tougher alcohol sale rules, banning the sale of beer from the street stands as of January 1. The beer is made equal to strong alcoholic drinks, before this ban the beer with less than five degrees of alcohol was permitted for the sale at the street stands.
The Moscow authorities have introduced the ban on the nighttime sale of strong alcoholic drinks from 23:00 to 08:00 hours already several days ago. The ban on the sale of beer at the street stands was imposed at the federal level this time. The beer will be banned from sale not only in Moscow, but thorough the country as of January 1. Any alcoholic drinks, including beer, cannot be sold in the area next to the children’s, educational institutions and sport facilities and in the public transport, as of January 1.
According to the Moscow department of trade and services, 10,000 street stands, the half of which sells the food products and 4,000-5,000 other street stands sell the beer, work in the Russian capital now. These street stands are offered to turn for the sale of kvass, cola and mineral water instead of alcohol. The alcohol sale at the shops, which are situated in the residential houses, will not be restricted yet.
The alcoholic market is expected to have one more novelty, which is also linked with beer. Since the beer is becoming an alcoholic drink, all shops, bars, which did not have a selling license before, are to apply for these licenses, if they want to sell it.
About 230 alcohol trade licenses were annulled in the Russian capital in 2012 over the violations of the alcohol trade rules. A total of 10,000 alcohol trade licenses were issued in the Russian capital, each 44th license was revoked.
Moscow imposes tougher alcohol sale rules, banning beer from street stands
The beer is made equal to strong alcoholic drinks
Photo ITAR-TASS