No beer

State Duma deputies want to ban drinking the foamy drink for everyone and almost everywhere

Russians will soon, it seems, be able to drink beer only at home and in bars. The State Duma may introduce new restrictions on the consumption of the foamy drink . Last week, the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy recommended adopting in the first reading a bill banning the drinking of beer and low-alcohol drinks in all public places by both adults and teenagers.

The story of the “beer bans” lasts for more than two years. Back in 2005, State Duma deputies initiated the adoption of a bill that would radically limit the sale and consumption of beer. In addition to the fact that beer could be prohibited for drinking in public places with the exception of specially equipped bars, local authorities were given the right to independently limit the sale of beer on their territory. Unexpectedly, the law was rejected by the president (as we know, a big beer drinker). The motivation was the argument that the law violated the norms of the Constitution, which relates the introduction of restrictions on human rights to the exclusive competence of federal legislators, but not local ones. After all, opponents of the law attributed the new powers of local authorities to the violation of human rights to purchase goods in an accessible place.

The conciliation commission reworked the law beyond recognition. The revised bill introduced a taboo on drinking beer in public places only for minors. Adults were prohibited from drinking beer only in public transport, hospitals, near schools and kindergartens. In physical education, health and sports institutions, the sale of beer and drinks made on its basis was prohibited, and for cultural organizations (theaters and cinemas) a small exception was made - the sale of beer was allowed only in buffets. It was also decided that the city authorities would retain the right to determine only local places where the sale and consumption of beer is prohibited. In other places, the sale of the drink was allowed “by default.”

This is the wording of the law that came into force. However, just six months later it became clear that beer alcoholism was not decreasing due to the introduction of new rules in the country, and the taboo on beer for minors turned out to be completely ineffective in the absence of any significant penalties. Schoolchildren still drink drinks on the streets, in parks and squares. The fact is that today the fine is from 300 to 500 rubles. for drinking beer by minors in a public place is imposed only on parents of children under 16 years of age. The law does not provide for liability for the same violations of adolescents aged 16 to 18 years. Drinking beer in public places by adults is actually legalized.

Several parliamentary associations and regional legislative assemblies decided to fill this legal gap and prohibit absolutely everyone, regardless of age, from drinking beer on the streets, introducing six alternative bills for consideration by the lower house. The Economic Policy Committee recommended for adoption the bill introduced by the State Council of the Komi Republic. Deputies also supported the proposal to increase the fine for drinking beer on the streets in the amount of at least ten minimum wages.

It is difficult to say whether the new prohibitive measures will be more effective than the current ones. The cult of the beer lifestyle has already firmly established itself in Russia. And under the current legislation, nothing prevents the police from actively fining teenagers under 16 years old with beer in their hands. So the law will most likely add to the collection of populist election initiatives.

Irina SKLYAROVA