Russia classifies beer as alcoholic

roryc

Gotta love the Russians...

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

BBC wrote:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill that officially classifies beer as alcoholic.

Until now anything containing less than 10% alcohol in Russia has been considered a foodstuff.

The move, signed into law on Wednesday, will allow ministers to control the sale of beer in the same way that spirits are controlled.

Russian alcohol consumption is already twice the critical level set by the World Health Organization.

Although vodka has long been the traditional tipple in Russia, beer has soared in popularity, being marketed as a healthier alternative to spirits.

Over the past decade, beer sales in Russia have risen more than 40% while vodka sales have fallen by nearly 30%.

Correspondents say it is common to see people swigging beer in the street and in parks as if they are drinking soft drinks.

It is not restricted to certain stores and is sold around the clock.

"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.

Tabnabs

In Soviet Russia, beer drinks you... blah blah blah

Been there bought the tshirt

http://rlv.zcache.com/in_soviet_russia_beer_drink_you_tshirt-p235084763463805078qnxd_400.jpg

Mr Benevolent

In Soviet Russia, blah blah blahs you!

Edit: Bollocks.

deisedave

Is really strong pure vodka not the common drink in Russia ?

Lux23

Pure vodka? What's that?

NTMK

no doubt this puts more tax on it dumb move by Medvedev with an electon next year. putin's got a much better idea

An online campaign has been launched in Russia urging young women to support Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in a presidential vote by taking off their clothes, a lawmaker's site showed Sunday.
Called "Putin's Army," it features a video of a blonde student called Diana who struts along Moscow's streets in high heels and a black suit before scrawling "I will tear my clothes off for Putin" on a white top in red lipstick and starting to undo her clothes.
Inviting girls to strip off for Putin for the chance of winning an iPad2, the campaign comes ahead of the March 2012 presidential vote. Putin was president between 2000-2008 before handing the reins to his protege Dmitry Medvedev.
Widely seen as Russia's key decision-maker, Putin may return to the Kremlin next year.
"The goal: For Putin to be president!" said a statement on its page on social networking site vkontakte.ru/armiaputina, Russia's answer to Facebook.
During Russia's Soviet era, nudity in advertising was taboo but has since become widespread, a fact which has outraged Russian feminists who say it only intensifies an already sexualized culture where prostitution is common.
It is unclear who orchestrated the campaign which was posted on the blog of parliamentarian Kirill Shchitov, from Putin's ruling United Russia party.
In October, a band of journalism students posed in lingerie for a calendar for Putin's 58th birthday.

:pac:

Agricola

Lux23 wrote: »

Pure vodka? What's that?

100% vodka of course :rolleyes:

FionnBarr

ah sure they drink vodka like its water over there, so im sure they could drink a sh1tload of beer with no trouble

Lapin

Fuk the Russians.

I still consider beer to be a foodstuff and stuff.

ascanbe

In Soviet Russia, beer classify you!