At what hours and on what days is the sale of alcohol banned? On what days and at what times is alcohol not sold in Russia? When is it prohibited to sell alcohol?


The Law on the Sale of Alcohol, also known as Federal Law No. 171-FZ of November 22, 1995, was adopted in Russia not by chance. Unfortunately, our country is at the top of the world rankings for alcohol consumption. It's no secret that alcoholism is one of the most important problems in our society, and various government officials also regularly focus on this.

One of the most effective levers for reducing the amount of alcohol consumed on average in the country is to limit its sale at the legislative level. Due to the fact that measures of this kind have already been taken, the question of when it is prohibited to sell alcohol is of interest to both those who sell it and those who plan to consume it. Of course, there is a special law on the sale of alcohol, but not everyone bothers to open it and understand everything. Below is all the information in a more accessible and understandable form.

The concept of "alcohol"

In order to competently use and follow the law on the sale of alcohol, it is necessary to clearly understand what exactly falls under the concept of “alcoholic drink”. The law we are interested in is Federal Law No. 171-FZ of November 22, 1995. In fact, all drinks that contain 0.5% ethyl alcohol or its fermentation products are officially alcoholic - Art. 2 FZ-171. However, there is a small supply. This concept does not include all products in which the percentage of alcohol does not exceed 1.2%. For example, alcohol may be contained in such small quantities in fermented milk products (kefir, tan, kumiss), as well as in kvass. It is worth noting that some types of kvass contain even more alcohol than 1.2%, but they are still not classified as alcoholic beverages.

By product type

In addition, all products that are officially positioned as non-alcoholic and have passed the appropriate test are not subject to the law on the sale of alcohol. The most common options for this are non-alcoholic beer and non-alcoholic wine. They usually still contain ethanol, but its share rarely exceeds half a percent, and therefore such drinks are not subject to the said Federal Law.

The main list of alcoholic beverages is specified in the above-mentioned federal law and other regulations. To put it simply, any liquid that contains alcohol is officially subject to the law on the sale of alcohol. In particular:

  • wine;
  • liquor;
  • port wine;
  • whiskey;
  • cognac;
  • vodka;
  • brandy;
  • absinthe;
  • tequila;
  • Calvados;
  • any alcohol tinctures;
  • beer.

Beer

The beer is worth a special mention. For some reason, many people believe that beer is not subject to the law on the sale of alcohol due to its low alcohol content. The same thing is often thought about various low-alcohol products, alcohol-based energy drinks, and so on. As a rule, the alcohol content in such drinks is at the level of 3-4% or even higher, so there is no reason to make an exception for them. From a legal point of view of the law in question, the sale of 3.5 percent beer is equivalent to the sale of 70 percent chacha. But you need to understand that for the sale of beer there are exceptions specified in other regulations. Therefore, if you decide to engage in retail beer trade, study the legislation more carefully, in particular Federal Law-289.

Normative base

The Law on the Sale of Alcohol, which, by the way, was amended in 2019 (came into force on August 6, 2017), is the main regulatory act that regulates the sale of any alcoholic beverages.

One of the most important points of this law is limiting the age of persons to whom alcohol can be sold. In any instance, it is 18 years old. An exception is made only for those cases when a person has officially entered into marriage, or has opened his own private enterprise. In such cases, he is officially considered an adult and capable of taking responsibility for his actions. However, even if, for example, a marriage certificate is presented, store sellers very often refuse to sell alcohol to a client.

Requirements for premises and documents

Another very interesting point of the law is the limitation of the area of ​​​​premises in which alcohol can be sold. The law prohibiting the sale of alcohol prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages in an establishment whose area is less than 50 square meters. Outside the city limits, this limit is reduced to 25 square meters. This information is regulated by various articles of the law, but in fact, for understanding, it is worth immediately studying 278-FZ - it is in it that the main amendments regarding changes in some premises are spelled out.

It is worth noting that there have always been plenty of people willing to circumvent the law on the sale of alcohol in Russia. A common scheme is to try to buy alcohol online. At the same time, the courier brings the client not only the drink itself, but also a rental agreement, which is a cover. According to this document, alcohol is allegedly rented to a person as a decorative element. At the same time, according to the contract, the recipient does not have the right to damage or open it. However, this scheme is now being easily figured out by law enforcement officials. The lease agreement is recognized as having been drawn up to conceal the real purchase and sale agreement, after which the selling company is held accountable. In some cases, even the buyer may be attracted if he directly participated in the implementation of the scheme, fully aware of the fact that it is illegal.

Lawyer at the Legal Defense Board. He specializes in administrative and civil cases, compensation for damages from insurance companies, consumer protection, as well as cases related to the illegal demolition of shells and garages.

There has been a law in place for quite some time that makes it impossible to sell alcohol at certain hours. The ban applies to all regions of the Russian Federation without exception. State entities have the right to establish additional rules aimed at tightening the sale of alcoholic beverages. Why is the state struggling with excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages? What are the requirements for the sale of alcohol? These and many other questions can be answered in the article.

On restricting the sale of alcoholic beverages

In Russia there has always been a problem with the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The situation today is not the best. The amount of alcohol consumed per capita is several times higher than the norm, which is quite depressing. The authorities, concerned about the problem of drunkenness, are actively passing laws aimed at limiting the spread of alcohol.

Bans apply in a variety of areas. Everyone knows that it is forbidden to sell alcoholic beverages to minors. Recently, another point was added to this ban: a time limit on the sale of alcohol. In regions, certain hours and even days are established when the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

State powers to implement the sale of alcohol

What standards are established by Federal Law No. 171 “On the regulation of the production and circulation of alcohol”? Article 4 talks about the possibility of introducing a state monopoly on alcohol. At the same time, the powers of state bodies include:

It is about the restriction on the sale of alcohol that will be discussed further.

Reasons for restrictions and prohibitions

Alcohol is sold only during certain hours and days. Trade is not allowed everywhere, but only in specially designated places. There is a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of majority. Why are all these rules in place? What's the point?

Unfortunately, alcoholism is one of the most important problems in Russia. Neither holiday nor grief is complete without alcohol. The reasons for the high level of alcoholism in the country are varied. This is a low standard of living, an insufficiently developed culture and much more. Perhaps even the Russian mentality is to blame for the problem, but this is a controversial statement.

Alcoholism is the source of much unhappiness. A large number of crimes and offenses are associated precisely with alcohol intoxication of citizens. The authorities must fight alcoholism in every possible way, but not through direct prohibitions, but in indirect ways: by promoting physical education and sports, educating the people, etc. We should not forget about the need to improve the standard of living. For example, take the countries of Scandinavia. The standard of living there is the highest in the world, and these states are in first place in the sobriety rating.

Prohibited places

Alcohol is not allowed to be sold in some public places, a list of which is given in Article 16 of Federal Law-171. Retail trade is prohibited in the following places:

  • military installations;
  • mobile retail outlets;
  • train stations, markets, airports;
  • public transport and transport stops;
  • Gas stations (car gas stations);
  • educational, medical and sports institutions;
  • some cultural institutions (sale of low-alcohol drinks is allowed in some places).

In case of sale of alcoholic beverages in these places, sanctions are established by law. Alcohol can be sold no closer than 150 meters from the establishments presented.

What does alcohol actually mean? According to the Government Decree “On the Prohibition of the Sale of Alcohol,” these are drinks that contain more than half a percent of ethyl alcohol. This includes vodka, wine products, beer, cider, mead and much more.

Ban days

At what hours and on what days is the sale of alcohol prohibited? The federal law gives regions the opportunity to independently introduce bans on the conditions for the sale of alcohol-containing products. Local authorities in many cities rushed to take advantage of this ban. So-called “days of sobriety” began to be introduced, when the sale of alcohol was completely prohibited. As a rule, such days are associated with children's or youth holidays. Thus, almost all Russian regions introduced a corresponding ban on the following days:


Separately, we should highlight Temperance Day, which has been celebrated every September 11 since 1911. In Central Russia, June 12 - Russia Day and September 12 - Family Communication Day are also added to the presented dates.

Can the regions even introduce a “prohibition”? Unfortunately or fortunately, local authorities do not have such powers. This will violate the requirements of several laws at once - antimonopoly, free trade, etc.

Ban hours

Over time, alcohol sales should also be dealt with by local regional authorities. There is even a whole table from which you can determine the hours of the ban on the sale of alcohol in a particular region. At the same time, a federal rule has been established, that is, a mandatory rule for everyone: the sale of alcohol is prohibited from 11 pm to 8 am. This requirement does not apply to bars, restaurants, cafes, as well as shops trading without applying duties.

In Moscow and the Moscow region there is a ban that coincides with the federal one. It is not so easy to buy alcohol in St. Petersburg: alcohol is not sold from 10 pm to 11 am. Similar time frames have been established throughout Central Russia. But in Yakutia, for example, everything is much more complicated. You can buy alcohol here only from 10 pm to 2 pm. The most stringent requirements for the sale of alcohol are established in Chechnya: it is prohibited to buy alcohol here from 10 am to 8 am.

Law on the sale of alcohol: age restrictions

The new Law Prohibiting the Sale of Alcohol at Certain Hours and Days (1995, as amended on July 29, 2017) regulates the sale of alcohol to individuals. In particular, the regulation prohibits the sale of alcohol to minors, that is, persons under 18 years of age. However, some stores have the opportunity not to sell alcohol-containing products to persons under 21 years of age.

For selling alcohol to a minor, the seller will be subject to administrative liability. However, if within 180 days (within six months) the culprit repeats the violation, he will face criminal liability.

The corpus delicti of the crime under consideration is of a formal nature. Its objective side will be the retail trade in alcohol. The intent to violate the law in this case is direct. The seller understood that the buyer may be a minor. The subject of the crime will be the seller himself - a retail worker.

Sanctions for selling alcohol during prohibited hours

For selling alcohol at night, the culprit will be fined 100 thousand rubles in accordance with Article 14.11 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. The same punishment awaits citizens or legal entities who decide to sell “strong drinks” in inappropriate places. Additionally, such a measure of liability as confiscation of alcohol-containing products may be applied.

What will citizens or legal entities expect? persons who agreed to sell alcohol to minors? The seller as an individual will be fined from 30 thousand to 50 thousand rubles. The official will pay a fine from 100 thousand to 200 thousand rubles. A legal entity will be forced to pay the state an amount reaching half a million rubles.

Criminal prosecution will await those who violate the law repeatedly. The punishment here is a fine of up to 80 thousand rubles, or correctional labor for up to three years. A ban on holding a professional position is also possible - also for up to 3 years.

Opinions on the law

How do citizens, as well as legislators themselves, evaluate the law banning the sale of alcohol on weekends and during certain hours? Are the restrictions introduced by representatives of the legislative process effective? Initially, it was hoped that the measures taken would help significantly reduce the level of alcohol consumption by the population. Many considered the measure effective. Reducing the hours during which alcohol can be purchased should have an impact on alcohol consumption.

However, there is a group of citizens who think differently. Opponents of the law oppose the ban on the sale of alcohol on holidays. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly reported on cases where citizens purchased alcohol either in advance or at shady spots. Opponents of the law claim that alcohol can always be purchased in advance, and restrictions or prohibitions themselves have never had a positive impact. Moreover, a citizen who purchased alcohol in large quantities in advance may lose control of himself and drink it all. The result is serious poisoning, intoxication, increased crime, etc. There are also people who believe that restrictions will lead to the development of the shadow market and their own production. In illegal outlets, alcohol sold, as a rule, is not of the best quality. This can lead to poisoning and serious harm to health. Surrogate products produced independently can even lead to death.

And what harm can it cause to the human body. Therefore, the State Duma decided to take control over the sale of alcoholic beverages. How does the alcohol ban work? At what time is it impossible to buy strong drinks in Russia? Let's analyze the law in more detail.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a loss of control over the amount of drinking, which entails disastrous consequences. As this condition progresses, tolerance to alcohol and psychophysical dependence on it appear.

From a medical point of view, drunkenness is a disease characterized by craving for alcoholic beverages. Sometimes the name “chronic alcoholism” is used. The disease is rapidly gaining momentum every year. That is why authorities around the world are introducing a new bill to limit the sale of strong drinks.

Law prohibiting the sale of alcohol

Every year in Russia the percentage of people who drink alcohol increases, and minors have also appeared among them. The authorities, concerned about this situation, are adopting more and more new laws that should reduce the possibility of purchasing alcoholic beverages. The most significant of them is decree 171-FZ of November 22, 1995. According to this law, strong drinks include those that have more than 0.5% alcohol.

The law prohibiting the sale of alcohol does not allow the sale of alcoholic beverages near institutions visited by children, in cultural institutions, in public transport and crowded places such as train stations, bus stops, markets and others. The decree also prohibits the sale of drinks containing alcohol to persons under the age of majority.

In addition to territorial restrictions on the sale of alcohol, there are others. The decree sets out certain days for the sale of alcohol to be prohibited. May, as the last month of spring, is associated with aromatic barbecue and a lot of holidays. In Russia, it is officially customary to prohibit the sale of alcohol on certain days. When does the ban on the sale of alcohol during the May holidays apply?

May 25 is the date when graduates celebrate graduation from school. It is on this day that retail sales of strong drinks are prohibited. If the calendar is Sunday, the ban moves to May 24.

The ban on the sale of alcohol is quite justified, because often graduates, wanting to unforgettably celebrate their graduation from school, commit a lot of rash acts while intoxicated.

June Sobriety Days

We have already found out when it will not be possible to purchase alcohol in May. When can this not be done in the first month of summer? Is a ban on the sale of alcohol during the holidays effective?

There is also a ban on the sale of alcohol in June. At the beginning of summer, unlike May, three days of sobriety are allocated: June 1, 12 and 27 for Russia and youth). Alcohol is prohibited in these.

Ban on alcohol sales in September

The ban on the sale of alcohol on holidays is quite justified. Statistics show that most injuries received are related to alcohol intoxication. In September, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on the following days: September 1, 17 and 11.

Punishment for breaking the law

Punishable. Organizations that sell goods in prohibited areas are required to pay a fine for violating the law. The amount ranges from 50 to 100,000 rubles. Such a fine is imposed on the entire organization, and a separate amount is established for the manager himself. Typically this is 10% of the penalty for the entire establishment. This fine also applies to those establishments that sell alcohol-containing products during prohibited hours. In addition to territorial and time restrictions, the distribution of alcoholic beverages among persons under 18 years of age is also punishable. The fine for the establishment in this case is about 400,000 rubles, and for the seller who sold alcohol to a minor - 35,000.

Purpose of implementing the law

The purpose of the bill is to reduce the level of alcoholism. However, it is worth noting that this decision pushes many to illegally sell strong drinks. That is why cases of poisoning from low-quality alcoholic beverages have recently become more frequent. It is worth noting that another goal of the bill is to reduce the incidence of accidents involving people under the influence of alcohol. Statistics show that most often such accidents occur at night. It is for this reason that the bill banning alcohol provides for a temporary barrier to the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Illegal trade

For each of us, the World Wide Web is not only a way to find useful information, but also a convenient option for making purchases. Statistics show that the number of online shoppers is growing every year. Every day a huge number of illegal products appear on the Internet, which scammers are diligently trying to sell. These products include alcohol. On the Internet, the price of alcoholic beverages is significantly lower than the market price, but are they of high quality?

Careful monitoring made it possible to find out that the majority of strong drinks sold on the Internet are not only unlicensed, but also dangerous to human health. Due to the increase in cases of alcohol poisoning due to low-quality alcoholic beverages purchased virtually, the State Duma is seriously thinking about strict control of online sellers. The bill, which provides for punishment for illegal online trading, is planned to be released this spring.

Time barrier

There are many holidays when the ban also plays a significant role. At what time is it impossible to buy alcohol in Russia?

The decree prohibits the sale of alcohol from 23:00 to 8:00. However, almost every region has set its own time barrier. It's worth discussing this in more detail. In the Moscow region, the sale of alcohol ends at 21:00 and begins at 11:00, while, for example, in the Tula region you can make a purchase only from two o’clock in the afternoon until ten o’clock in the evening.

The most stringent measures have been taken in the Chechen Republic, since alcohol can be purchased there only for two hours a day, namely from eight to ten in the morning. In some regions, the ban on the sale of alcohol also applies on weekends, meaning it is also impossible to purchase alcohol on Saturday and Sunday. Among such regions, the Ulyanovsk region stands out.

Powdered alcohol

Powdered alcohol in Russia is becoming more popular every day. This is a dry mixture that, when combined with water, turns into an alcoholic drink. Usually this product is sold again on the Internet. Experts conducted a series of studies and found that it is a narcotic substance that tastes similar to alcohol.

In December 2015, the State Duma submitted a proposal to ban the sale of powdered alcohol. The bill is currently being prepared for general publication. As we said earlier, this mixture is most often sold on the Internet, and that is why the State Duma will soon establish special controls that will prevent illegal sales on the Internet.

New bill

So, the State Duma seriously began to control enterprises that sell alcoholic beverages. This year it was proposed to allow the sale of such products only at specialized sales points. A sales license can be obtained by a store that has an area of ​​at least fifty square meters. It is also worth noting that the room must have both an entrance and an exit. If the store is located in a rural area, then the minimum area threshold is twenty-five square meters.

Opponents of bans

In Russia there is a ban on the sale of alcohol in May, September, June and other months, as well as at certain times. However, quite recently, the authorities put forward a proposal to lift the ban on the sale of alcohol in certain territorial categories. They believe that the number of alcohol addicts has not decreased, but this has significantly impacted the budget.

The Ministry of Health does not support such an initiative. They believe that this could provoke an increase in alcohol consumption, including among young people. This may cause an aggravation of the criminal situation.

Ban on alcohol in thermoplastics

Interestingly, since the beginning of this year a new project has been released that prohibits the sale of alcohol in plastic bottles. Only alcohol in plastic that exceeds four degrees of strength is allowed. First of all, this decree will affect beer factories that sell their products in such containers. However, amendments were adopted, and the State Duma allowed the sale of wine from Russian grapes in plastic bottles, but only if they were properly packaged.

Proposal to ban the sale of alcohol to persons under 21 years of age

Russian deputy and governor Alexander Drozdenko earlier this year submitted for consideration a proposal to introduce a bill that would ban the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 21. The deputy in his project emphasizes that this will preserve the health of citizens of the Russian Federation. For clarity, Alexander cites world statistics, in which the country ranks fourth in the consumption of strong drinks.

Drozdenko believes that first of all it is necessary to pay attention to young people. Often teenagers do not control themselves while intoxicated and commit rash, and sometimes even dangerous, actions for life or society.

The fine for drinking alcohol by a person under 21 years of age will range from 500 to a thousand rubles. The establishment that sold alcohol will not only be punished with a fine, but in the future may even lose its license.

The goal of this project is to reduce alcohol consumption among young people. Statistics over the past year show that the average age of teenagers who drink alcohol is fourteen years old. Such data is certainly not encouraging.

Exception

As we have already found out, only an adult citizen can purchase alcohol, but there are exceptions to the law. Alcoholic drinks can be sold to a person who has not reached the age of eighteen, if the teenager has opened his own state of emergency or is married. In such a situation, the minor is considered as a capable citizen. However, few sellers know about this amendment and still do not risk selling alcohol to independent teenagers.

Let's sum it up

Drinking alcohol is an individual choice for everyone. We found out on what days the ban on the sale of alcohol is valid and what time frames are set for this. This information will be of interest to every connoisseur of strong drinks. However, we strongly recommend not to get carried away with alcoholic beverages, and, if possible, to give them up altogether. Be healthy!


In many countries with a Muslim population, alcohol consumption is completely prohibited throughout the entire territory. Below we have listed the countries with the strictest anti-alcohol laws.

14. YEMEN


Alcohol is completely prohibited in Yemen, according to Islamic principles. Yemenis are not allowed to drink or sell alcohol in all parts of the country except Aden and Sanaa, where the drink is sold in certain permitted restaurants, hotels and nightclubs.

Non-Muslim foreigners are allowed to bring limited amounts of alcohol into the country and drink only at home.

13. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (IN SHARJAH)


In the United Arab Emirates, alcohol is allowed to be sold under very strict regulations, with the exception of Sharjah, where it is completely prohibited. In Sharjah, only those with a government liquor license (usually non-Muslims) are allowed to carry alcohol.

In addition, such valid license holders may only consume alcohol in their own home. Consumption, purchase or any other form of alcohol consumption in public areas is strictly prohibited and violators are subject to imprisonment, flogging or other forms of punishment. In other parts of the UAE, alcohol can be sold in restaurants, hotels or other places where the seller has a valid liquor license.

Consumption of alcohol is permitted for non-Muslims, but only in their private homes or the hotels and bars they visit. No other form of alcohol consumption is permitted. Foreign tourists are allowed to bring a limited amount of alcohol into the country for personal use.

12. SUDAN


In Sudan, a war-torn country in northeast Africa, alcohol is strictly prohibited. The Islamist state has banned the production, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the country since 1983. The Liquor Prohibition Bill, passed by the Sudanese Union Socialist Party, originates from that country's mandate.

However, this ban applies primarily to Muslims; non-Muslims can drink alcohol in their private rooms. But tourists are always advised to follow and respect local rules and customs in Sudan, including alcohol consumption laws, to avoid getting into any unpleasant situation.

11. SOMALIA


The laws of this Islamic country located in the Horn of Africa are very strict when it comes to implementing alcohol-related laws. Here, the production of alcohol, its trade and consumption are completely prohibited.

Although non-Muslims and foreigners are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages, they must do so in their own private space. Those who disrespect Islamic laws will face severe punishment.

10. SAUDI ARABIA


The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the main place for all Islamic pilgrims, Mecca, is located, has a complete ban on alcohol. It is illegal to produce, import, sell and consume. Strict baggage checks are carried out at the airport to prevent alcohol from entering the country.

Those caught selling or consuming alcohol in public will face penalties such as long prison sentences or flogging. Foreigners are also advised to be extremely cautious regarding this sensitive issue and avoid alcoholic beverages while visiting Saudi Arabia.

9. PAKISTAN


In Pakistan, alcohol was legal for three decades after the country's independence. However, during the reign of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a ban was introduced, and after his removal from office in 1977, the ban continued to exist.

Currently, although Muslims are not allowed to manufacture, sell or consume alcoholic beverages within the country, non-Muslim minorities are allowed to apply for liquor licenses.

Permits are often granted for economic growth. Typically, 5 bottles of liquor and 100 bottles of beer are the monthly allowance for non-Muslims in the country.

8. MAURITANIA


In the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in Western North Africa, the possession, consumption, sale and production of alcohol is prohibited for Muslim residents.

However, non-Muslims are allowed to consume alcohol in their homes or in hotels and restaurants that have valid alcohol permits.

7. MALDIVES


The Maldives, located in an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is a popular tourist center, famous throughout the world for its beaches and exotic resorts, where alcohol is prohibited for the local population.

Only resorts and some hotels and restaurants with special passes are allowed to sell alcohol to visitors.

6. LIBYA


Tourists visiting Libya are advised to respect local customs and rules. The laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol are quite strict here. The sale and consumption of alcohol is completely prohibited.

Those who do not respect the laws and sell or consume alcohol in public are severely punished. However, they say that alcohol can easily be obtained illegally.

5. KUWAIT


In Kuwait, the sale, consumption and possession of alcohol is prohibited by law. The country has a zero-tolerance policy against those who drive drunk. If even a small amount of alcohol is found in the driver’s blood, the offender will be severely punished.

Drinking alcohol in public places is strictly prohibited; violating the ban can lead to imprisonment of local residents or deportation of foreigners.

4. IRAN


In Iran, drinking alcohol is prohibited for Muslim citizens. However, the law is not as strict for non-Muslims, who are allowed to produce and consume alcohol under certain conditions. Non-Muslims are allowed to bring alcohol when entering the country.

3. INDIA (IN SOME STATES)


In India, rules and regulations related to the sale, storage and consumption of alcohol are a matter of the state. States like Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and, more recently, Bihar have strictly prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol.

In Manipur and Lakshadweep, alcohol is prohibited locally in certain areas. Kerala also has some restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol. Other states in India do not ban alcohol.

In some places, dry days are observed during some festivals, and the whole country also observes dry days during elections or any national holidays, such as Gandhi Jayanti (birthday of Mahatma Gandhi).

2. BRUNEI


In Brunei, a sovereign state in Southeast Asia, public consumption of alcohol and the sale of alcohol are prohibited. However, non-Muslim adults may carry two bottles of liquor and twelve cans of beer per person when entering the country.

They must tell customs at the airport that they are carrying alcohol. Drinking alcohol is only allowed at home.

1. BANGLADESH


In Bangladesh, the consumption and sale of alcohol is prohibited. However, non-Muslims living in or visiting the country are not subject to such restrictions, but only if they consume alcohol in their personal space.

Some restaurants, nightclubs, hotels and bars, especially those catering to tourists, are allowed to sell alcohol.

The coming year 2019 will differ from 2018 with the entry into force of new “alcohol” laws and more severe penalties for violations in this regard.

Legislators are doing their best to demonstrate their concern for the future of the Russian nation. The State Duma adopted several hundred amendments to Law 171 Federal Law. Big “alcohol” changes await producers, distributors, and consumers.

The grace period provided to producers and distributors of alcoholic beverages begins on January 1, 2019. During this time, they will have to bring their business into compliance with the new amendments to the Law on the Production and Sale of Alcohol. The six-month deferment provides for the absence of sanctions for violation of updated legislation. The sanctions will take effect from July 1, 2019.

These changes will not go unnoticed by Russian buyers. According to the people's representatives, the new laws are aimed at combating the shadow production of alcoholic beverages and organizing a transparent system for monitoring production and sales. And, of course, to fight alcoholism, which has reached the scale of a national disaster.

What to expect in 2019

The changes will affect producers, retailers and buyers of alcoholic products. They will have to master a new format of business and alcohol consumption. The regulatory authorities will have more worries, because the law affected not only the real sector of business and life, but also the global network.

The following amendments and additions will come into effect from January 1, 2019:

  • It is prohibited to advertise the sale of alcohol on the Internet;
  • Strict registration of equipment producing alcohol has been introduced;
  • An individual is prohibited from transporting more than ten liters of unlabeled alcohol-containing products;
  • The EGAIS system will begin to operate, which will provide a new principle of control over the sale of alcohol;
  • The punishment for violating alcohol laws has become much more severe and includes not only huge fines.

Changes in the federal law are reflected accordingly in the Code of Administrative Violations (CAO). It is important to remember that these acts can be supplemented by local authorities in the regions of Russia.

Online Liquor Law

Starting from January 1 of the coming year, it is prohibited to advertise the sale of alcoholic beverages on the Runet. The Code of Administrative Offenses provides for liability for violation of restrictions in the form of a fine:

  • Individual – three to five thousand rubles;
  • Officials – 25-40 thousand rubles;
  • Legal entity – 100-300 thousand rubles.

Law 149 Federal Law, as amended, provides for the blocking of Internet resources that place on their pages advertisements for the sale of alcohol-containing products and alcoholic beverages.

This measure is intended to limit the drinking of alcoholic beverages in Russia.

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation is developing a bill on the procedure for the online sale of alcohol, which will come into force on July 1, 2019. Currently, the sale of alcohol-containing products on the RuNet is officially prohibited. The agency believes that the ban is a fiction, since alcohol continues to be sold online. The bill provides for a control system for online sales of alcoholic beverages.

Remote sale of alcohol is possible only through the resource in the egais.ru zone. Trading platforms located in another zone will be blocked.

On registration of alcohol-producing equipment

“Alcohol” amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses provide for the responsibility of citizens for the possession and use of unregistered technical equipment with the help of which alcohol-containing drinks are produced.

From January 1, 2019, fines for illegal alcohol-producing equipment will also apply to individuals.

Failure to register will result in a fine and confiscation of the equipment:

  • Individual – three to five thousand rubles;
  • Officials – 20-50 thousand rubles;
  • Legal entity – 100-150 thousand rubles.

Fines are also being introduced for the use of pharmaceutical ethyl alcohol in the production of alcoholic beverages.

According to Article 14.17.2 of the Administrative Code, from January 1, 2019, the transportation of unlabeled alcohol by individuals is limited, regardless of the place of its production. Violation of the restriction entails penalties in the amount of three to five thousand rubles and confiscation of transported products.

The permissible volume of unlabeled alcohol transported by individuals across Russia is ten liters per person.

EGAIS - a new format for controlling the sale of alcohol

The successful completion of testing and implementation of the Unified State Automated System (USAIS) led to the legal transition to a global form of control over the circulation of alcoholic beverages. This will eliminate illegal alcohol from retail sales.

According to analysts, two thirds of the alcohol sold in Russia is produced illegally, which jeopardizes the health of citizens and leads to huge losses in the budget.

EGAIS will create a unified database of domestic and imported alcohol. To do this, each checkout must have a special scanner connected to the database via an Internet connection. The scanner reads data from the excise stamp. This information is reflected on the check.

A big advantage of EGAIS is that buyers will have access to information about the origin of each bottle of alcohol.

A bill on the introduction of a special GOST for brandy is also being discussed. This need is caused by the unprecedented turnover of illegal cognac. The corresponding amendment to Federal Law 171 will allow brandy to be classified as a separate category of alcoholic products. This will increase the availability of quality alcohol and facilitate the work of regulatory authorities.

Tougher penalties for violating the alcohol law in 2019


The Administrative and Criminal Codes of the Russian Federation have received many new articles and amendments regarding the responsibility of Russians for violations of “alcohol” laws. Arrest, community service, and imprisonment were added to the disproportionate fines.

The Criminal Code was supplemented with two articles on “Illegal production of alcohol-containing products” and “Illegal sale of alcoholic products.”

The first article provides for a fine of two to three million rubles, or forced labor for one to three years, or imprisonment for up to three years. Collective violation of the law leads to a multiple increase in punishment:

  • A fine of three to four million rubles;
  • Forced labor – five years;
  • Imprisonment - five years.

The second article on illegal sale leads to a fine in the amount of 50-80 thousand rubles. Fake excise stamps will lead to deprivation of 300-500 thousand rubles, forced labor or imprisonment for up to eight years. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, since the severity of the punishment must be proportionate to the damage caused.

The Code of Administrative Offenses of Russia expects changes in terms of collective responsibility for drugging teenagers and young people. According to sociologists, most teenagers try alcohol for the first time in the company of the older generation. Currently, responsibility for selling alcohol to minors rests only with representatives of the retail trade.

Soon, parents and guardians of schoolchildren who drink alcohol will be held administratively liable. In addition, the new bill contains a list of responsible persons. Compassionate citizens who succumbed to persuasion to buy alcohol and tobacco for a teenager ended up on this list. Legislators did not ignore sociable drinking buddies who offer a minor to “have a drink,” and who are also proposed to be held accountable.

The authorities remain unshakable regarding the previously introduced days of sobriety. In addition, regions are authorized to expand the anti-alcohol calendar. Currently, alcohol is not sold everywhere:

  • On the last day of school for schoolchildren;
  • During proms;
  • The first of June, when Children's Day is celebrated;
  • July 27, when young people celebrate their day;
  • On the first day of school for schoolchildren;
  • September 11 is All-Russian Day of Sobriety.

In the Ulyanovsk region, local authorities expanded the list, adding to it:

  • Weekend;
  • June 12 – celebration of Russia Day;
  • September 12 is a day dedicated to celebrating family.

Clause five of Article 18 of Law 171 Federal Law, which imposes a limitation on the time of sale of alcohol, remained unchanged. Given the extension of the law, we should expect in 2019 a widespread ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages after 11 p.m. The resumption of alcohol sales is permitted only from eight in the morning.

Many regions have made their own contribution to expanding the sober period of the day. Thus, in the Moscow region and St. Petersburg, alcohol sales begin only at 11.00. In Yakutia and the Tula region, the sale of alcohol is allowed from 14.00. In the Saratov, Astrakhan, and Kirov regions, alcohol sales begin at 10.00

Bills to change the current age restrictions have been repeatedly submitted to the State Duma for consideration. Experts refer to international practice in developed countries and disappointing statistics on alcohol consumption in Russia.

Thus, 99 out of a hundred high school students have experience of alcohol intoxication. Every day in Russia, a third of boys and a quarter of girls drink alcohol-containing drinks of various strengths. Only four percent of sixth-graders do not know the taste of alcohol.

Taking into account the successful experience of developed countries in the fight against alcoholism, the next bill proposes changing the age from 18 to 21 years. The main initiator of the bill is the Russian Ministry of Health. The bill is currently under consideration by the State Duma.

From January 1, 2019, the age limit for the sale of alcohol and tobacco remains at 18 years.