Production and sale of alcohol energy drinks ban may be introduced in Russia

UFA, 26 April 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Alim Faizov/. The Ministry of Finance proposes to introduce a ban on production and turnover of alcohol products with an ethyl alcohol content of less than 22% containing tonic agents, the Izvestia newspaper reports with reference to the ministry's press service. The ministry specified that the exception is only made for turnover outside the country and export sales. The corresponding regulation was formulated by the Ministry of Finance in the second reading of amendments to the law "On state regulation of the production and turnover of ethyl alcohol ..." (171-FZ). In the first reading the document was considered on March 24. During the next 30 days it was amended, the date of the second reading has not yet been defined.

The Ministry of Finance informs that according to the results of research of scientific institutions, a conclusion was made about harmful effect on the human body of alcoholic tonic beverages.

In 2015, 38 regions of the country supported the ban on sales of low-alcohol tonic drinks, although the FAS tried to combat this practice in the courts. But according to Art. 16 "On state regulation of the production and turnover of ethyl alcohol ..." (171-FZ), state authorities of the subjects of Russia can set restrictions on time, conditions and places of retail trade, and also prohibit the retail sale of alcohol products. Deputies also repeatedly suggested banning such drinks at the federal level, but their projects did not reach the first reading - the government gave negative feedback.

In Bashkiria, a ban on the sale of low-alcohol tonic drinks was introduced on September 1, 2015, then it was amended and supplemented.