[phillamb168]

...as opposed to anything under 10% being a "foodstuff"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14232970

[euge]

First thought when I saw this tweet was "taxes". It's not to curb consumption. Taxes. How coincidental when vodka sales are dropping off.

"The law brings some order into the sale of beer," Vadim Drobiz, director of the Centre for Federal and Regional Alcohol Market Studies, told US broadcaster Bloomberg.

Last year the Russian beer industry was hit by a 200% tax hike on its products as ministers sought to bring consumption under control.

The new measures - which come into effect in 2013 - will stop alcohol being sold in unlicensed kiosks, ban its sale from stores between certain hours and restrict its advertising.

In 2009 President Medvedev ordered the government to prepare draft laws on a package of measures to counter growing alcohol abuse.

[phillamb168]

yeah exactly. "...(T)o counter growing alcohol abuse."

Growing?

Кто будет третьим?

;-)

[beersk]

In America, you abuse alcohol.
In Soviet Russia, alcohol abuse you!

[Slowbrew]

In America, you abuse alcohol.
In Soviet Russia, alcohol abuse you!

Sounds like /.

I for one, welcome our new beer overlords.

Can the % be converted to content/library of congress please?

I heard this on NPR this morning just chuckled about it.

Paul

[alikocho]

This misses the point, that culturally beer isn't seen as alcohol in Russia. It's just beer. The regulation is about curbing underage consumption, raising tax revenue, and making alcohol harder to come by late at night.

[ckpash88]

I love how governments react to this. There more reactionary then proactive....maybe there is a reason they are drinking more...um yeah...lets figure out why and deal with that.

it's like getting pist at your dog for crapping on the floor maybe you should have potty trained them better.