PRESS: Russian ministry to discuss separate law for beer market

MOSCOW, Nov 16 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Economic Development Ministry will discuss regulations for the beer market, allowing to sell the drink on wholesale and retail markets, non-stationery trade points, sports facilities and via the Internet on November 23, Kommersant business daily reported on Wednesday citing the concept developed by the Higher School of Economics.

The prohibition to sell beer and stronger alcohol from 11.00 p.m. through 8.00 a.m., introduced in 2103, should also be abolished, because it did not hurt sales but prompted customers to buy beer in advance, Kommersant reported citing the concept.

The restrictions led to many people losing their jobs, small companies closing their production, and to lower tax contributions to all budgets. The time ban also meant a lower customer flow at night in many stores, which prompted their closing, the Higher School of Economics said in the concept.

Oraz Durdiyev, director for corporate relations at beer brewing giant AB InBev’s local unit SUN InBev, said that the concept is very likely to be approved, and it was developed in compliance with recommendations of industry experts, ministers and departments. It is based on the U.S. and Europe experience in beer regulation and on data from of the Euromonitor and the Federal State Statistics Service.

Alexei Kedrin, vice president for corporate issues at Carlsberg’s affiliate beer brewer Baltika, said that the concept may come in force in two or three years if it is approved, the business daily reported.

But the Russian union of alcohol producers, which unites major vodka makers, stands against separate regulation of the beer market. “We think that all the production that contains alcohol should be regulated by one law and no categories should receive preferences,” Kommersant cited Dmitry Dobrov, chairman of the union’s management board, as saying.

The Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation declined to comment.

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