DUSHANBE, December 31 2012 Asia-Plus – The law prohibiting the sale of beer between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am will take effect in Russia on January 1, 2013, Russian media sources report
The law also prohibits the sale of beer in shops with an area of less than 50 square meters.
A number of amendments to the current law regulating production and sale of alcohol products took effect last July.
Thus, Russian MPs approved restrictions on the sale of beer with alcohol content of more than 0.5 percent between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. in the country. The law also prohibited the sale of beer altogether at outdoor kiosks (stalls), train stations and street stands, at which around one-third, or about US$6 billion of Russia’s beer is sold, Russian media outlets report. The law also expanded the number of places where alcohol consumption is prohibited. These places include courtyards, elevators, building entryways, playgrounds, forests, parks and beaches.
According to some Russia media sources, the law has caused shock waves in the industry.
Shares in Danish brewer Carlsberg slid to a near four-month low over 4.2 percent in July on concerns that Russia, its largest single market, would pass the law, Russia Briefing reported on July 12, 2012. Carlsberg reportedly owns the best-selling Baltika brand and has an overall 40 percent share of the Russian market. The Russian market grew about 1 percent in the first quarter of this year and Carlsberg said in June that it expected the market to grow by between 3 percent and 5 percent in the medium term as the economy recovers.
Meanwhile, experts said it is unlikely that the restrictions will have an impact on alcohol consumption because people will simply buy the products earlier or illegally, Russia Briefing noted.
