A draft law which envisages a ban on retail sale of alcoholic beverages in plastic containers exceeding half a litre will be sent to the State Duma for consideration, Russian media reports.

The authors of the bill explain their proposal by the fact that it is impossible to improve the population and increase life expectancy to 80 years without solving the problem of alcoholism.

In the opinion of the initiators, the problem of excessive consumption of beer by teenagers and young people of childbearing age is particularly acute in the country. According to the Russian Ministry of Health, every third young man and every fifth girl drinks alcohol (including foamy drinks) every day. More than 70 percent regularly consume alcohol.

For about three years now, the country has not been allowed to bottle beer in plastic bottles over 1.5 liters. In 2018, the issue of reducing the volume of containers to 0.5 liters was raised.

According to Duma deputy Hajimet Safaraliev, such a proposal has many supporters and quite a few opponents in parliament, he said.

The beer market participants warn that if the law is passed, the price of beer may rise substantially, the media report.

Made in Russia // Made in Russia

Author: Ksenia Gustova