In just 30 years, one of the most “non-drinker” nations has won the podium of the countries with the largest amount of alcohol consumed per capita. About how this happened, you can talk for quite some time. In order not to go into polemics, it’s enough to recall that we are the only country that has to fight against child (!) Alcoholism, and also that crime is steadily growing in our country. Namely, crimes committed while intoxicated, are gradually turning into a real disaster. And so, the State Duma begins to struggle with the current state of things and approves laws to limit the distribution of alcoholic beverages. The turn came to a foamy drink - the law on beer was approved.
Now beer is legally equated to strong alcoholic drinks. According to Evgeny Bryun (chief narcologist of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation) and Gennady Onishchenko (head of Rospotrebnadzor), this bill should have been introduced much earlier. It is because of the lost time for most people that beer has ceased to be considered alcohol and is consumed in large quantities not only by adults, but also by adolescents. Drinking beer since the age of 15 has become a normal occurrence. Yes, and nothing to be surprised. Any advertising space is allowed for this drink; everyone is talking about it. The new beer law corrects the situation by completely abandoning any alcohol-related advertising activities.
Alcohol load lowered the age threshold of beer consumers and this affects the health of the whole nation. Adolescents without a shadow of constraint consume moderate doses of a foamy drink. But for the beer law they fought for more than 10 years. Now it is approved, but has a number of shortcomings and small, but loopholes. And our people are extremely smart and creative, do not forget about it. All that remains is to monitor the implementation of the law. It is no secret that the share of earnings on alcohol for many small shops and stalls is almost the main one. Not every one of them will just take it and give up big profits. But this is more a problem of our mentality.
Details of the bill are as follows:
- Drinks containing more than 0.5% alcohol are equivalent to alcohol
- The Beer Law prohibits the use of this drink in public places since January 2012 (yes, it is from January!)
- Starting January 1, 2013, beer sales in pavilions and kiosks are strictly prohibited, and only bars and restaurants will be able to sell beer at night (from 23.00 to 08.00).
- Ban on advertising any alcohol
Whether it’s good or not, they discuss it wherever possible. Indeed, many are used to drinking this drink in the hottest season of the year. Now you can buy, but where to drink it is your problem. The beer law provides for a fine of up to three hundred rubles even for a sip of an alcoholic drink in the wrong place. I wonder if article 20.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (the very law on beer) will take due effect? By and large, everything depends on us. Drinking alcohol in public places always causes a chain reaction, and it would actually be nice to get rid of it. After all, it’s not for nothing that they joke that in the “states” they only allow drinking at 23, and at this age they “tie up” us.
First of all, the law on beer, and more specifically on its partial ban, should make everyone think. It’s unlikely that you wondered why it’s not normal to drink a bottle of vodka in the park, but beer is always welcome. No need to delve into the details, but both of them are alcoholic drinks. Perhaps in a few years the fashion to drink anywhere will be lost and forgotten. Movements, albeit small, but there are, and not everyone today dares to drink one bottle on the street at a price of four, which means that little progress has already been made. There is something to think about. And remember, the beer law has been in effect since January 2012.