Parliamentarians may allow summer cafes to sell alcohol

Deputies of Tatarstan intend to revise the law they adopted against the sale of alcohol in night “shops and bars.” The State Council has received amendments that may exclude seasonal cafes from the list of non-stationary objects that are completely prohibited from selling alcohol. They are invited to return to the opportunity to sell beer from spring to autumn. Experts believe that this is being done for the world championship in water sports, which will be held in Kazan this summer.

United Russia members Marat Galeev (deputy chairman of the committee on economics, investment and entrepreneurship), Rafil Nugumanov (deputy chairman of the committee on law and order) and Nikolai Rybushkin submitted to parliament draft amendments to the law on limiting the sale of alcohol. The amendments could return summer cafes the right to sell beer and beer drinks.

Let us remind you that the law that established additional restrictions on the sale of alcohol was adopted in February of this year. In particular, he completely prohibited the sale of any alcoholic products in non-stationary facilities, as well as for takeaway. Thus, the deputies hoped to combat the sale of alcohol in night shops, which after 10 p.m. “masquerade” as bars. At the same time, deputies initially planned to ban alcohol even in restaurants and cafes located in residential buildings, but after the outcry of business (see Kommersant on November 19, 2014 and February 12, 2015), the ban was extended only to those establishments where the entrance to them organized from the yard side.

New relaxations of the law, as follows from the explanatory note to the draft amendments, are associated “with the active participation of the Republic of Tatarstan in sports, cultural and other public events of the country and the world,” as well as the development of tourism in the region. The authors of the amendments are confident that summer cafes, where there is “the opportunity to purchase and consume beer and beer drinks,” are the “optimal form” of public catering in places of public recreation and on tourist routes. In addition, the deputies refer to the government’s intentions to provide “all possible assistance” to businesses that are implementing “projects for opening affordable, publicly accessible seasonal restaurants and cafes.” “Men are already hissing that summer cafes have been banned. Not all beer drinkers are alcoholics. We need to support entrepreneurs during the crisis,” Rafil Nugumanov told Kommersant.

Let us note that last year the number of seasonal cafes in Kazan has already decreased. The city authorities approved new rules for their placement, obliging entrepreneurs to annually enter into contracts for the right to place them based on the results of auctions. In addition, standard cafe designs were developed (containing conditions on materials and color of structures, as well as the maintenance of the surrounding areas). As a result, by July, just over a dozen seasonal cafes were installed in the city.

If the amendments of the deputies are not accepted, this is another “threat to business,” says Maria Gorshunova, owner of the “Fed Papa” cafe chain. According to her, the range of summer cafes is already limited, since last year the Kazan authorities banned the use of barbecues and open fires for cooking. The fact that the city determines the location of such cafes is correct, she believes. Summer cafes should be near the water - “people love it”, but should not be located in courtyards. “If you create additional restrictions, this will reduce the legal sale of alcohol and attract those who want to sell it underground,” says Ms. Gorshunova.

The head of the Alcohol Association of Tatarstan, Anna Galimova, opposes the amendments of the deputies, believing that summer cafes are “noisy and unsanitary.” “It would be better to make parking free for tourists on weekends than to bring back these cafes,” she says. In her opinion, the return of beer sales in summer cafes is associated with the holding of the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan this year.

Kirill Antonov

Deputies were drawn to beer