MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. Russia’s alcohol poisoning death rate has declined by 25% since the retail sales of alcohol-containing non-food products and food supplements were banned, the national consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor’s press service told TASS, adding that the ban would be expanded starting from April 20.

"The sales ban on alcohol-containing non-food products and food supplements has made it possible to reduce the spread of counterfeit alcohol as well as the number of alcohol poisoning cases, including fatal ones. In 2017, the number of fatal alcohol poisoning cases declined by 25% compared to the past five years," the watchdog said.

During the 2018 holiday season, the number of alcohol poisoning cases declined from 1,800 to 677, while the number of fatalities dropped by 11 times (46 cases compared to 500), the watchdog pointed out.

Since the introduction of the ban, Rospotrebnadzor, regional police and prosecutors have conducted snap checks at more than 73,000 facilities, seizing over 616 liters of alcohol-containing non-food products and counterfeit alcohol.

The ban was introduced in December 2016 in the wake of a mass alcohol poisoning in the Irkutsk region, which involved an alcohol-containing bath lotion. However, the ban does not apply to glass cleaners, non-liquid products, cosmetic and home care products provided their package does not imply oral use (such as deodorants) .