The discussion about alcohol has raised the temperature – Kommersant FM
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The discussion around the sale of alcohol on the Internet has reached the government level. But the authorities still do not have a common opinion on this issue, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Tuesday. He admitted that his ministry is in favor of legalizing online sales of alcohol. However, due to interdepartmental disagreements, the Cabinet of Ministers cannot yet decide on a specific position. Controversy around this topic has recently flared up among businesses. So should we expect that online alcohol sales will be legalized? Vladimir Rasulov found out.
It has been illegal to sell alcohol online in Russia since 2007. But all this time, every now and then there were attempts to change the rules of the game.
Various business associations and even the Ministry of Finance came up with initiatives. The latter, back in 2017, developed a bill according to which remote sales of alcohol were to begin in 2020. The document has sunk into oblivion, but the ministry’s position does not seem to have changed.
The sale of alcohol online needs to be brought under control, since counterfeit products are often distributed this way, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on October 3. However, this is a very controversial topic, and the government has not yet decided on a specific position, the head of the Ministry of Finance emphasized, speaking in the Federation Council:
“Nowadays a lot of “burnt” alcohol is sold on the Internet. We are unable to overcome this and establish control over sites when some are closed today and others open tomorrow. It would be more correct to regulate this process. But there are points of view from other departments, we have no agreements with them yet, and there is no single position in the government.”
At the same time, in June, Senator Andrei Klishas prepared another bill on online sales of alcohol. True, he quickly withdrew the initiative. But
Vedomosti wrote in mid-August, citing sources, that the revised draft document would be submitted to the State Duma during the autumn session.
And at the end of September, the Association of Retail Trade Companies, which includes the largest retailers, spoke out against this. They fear that such measures will stimulate the black market, and there are no mechanisms to block sales of illegal alcohol in the online segment. However, AKORT has another logic, says Andrey Karpov, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Retail Market Experts:
“The fears of the players are to some extent understandable, because today large marketplaces have already been formed that have a fairly serious audience. If alcohol begins to be sold through online channels, then, accordingly, these participants will immediately take some share of the market, which, accordingly, will affect the profitability of large retail.”
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has repeatedly opposed the legalization of alcohol online. They feared that minors would be able to buy high-strength drinks via the Internet, and that it would be difficult to comply with the ban on sales at night. The Ministry of Health makes similar arguments, adding that alcohol is, in principle, dangerous to health. As a result, it will be difficult to quickly resolve the issue, even despite the positive position of the Ministry of Finance, says Vadim Drobiz, director of the center for research of the federal and regional alcohol markets:
“This is convenient for the consumer, convenient for retail, even for the chains that opposed it. Small volumes, at best 5% alcohol, will be sold online.
For the last eight years, the state has contributed with one hand and slowed down the process as much as possible with the other. This is the same endless question as allowing beer into stadiums; it will also not be resolved this year.”
The experiment of selling domestic wine on the Internet also remains in question. It is expected that such drinks will be available through Russian Post from November 1, 2023 to July 31, 2026. A relevant government bill was submitted to the State Duma back in April. But in mid-June its discussion in parliament was suspended. If you believe the Duma document database, deputies will begin to consider the initiative no earlier than December.
Everything is clear with us – Telegram channel “Kommersant FM”.
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