The Duma proposed to introduce minimum retail prices for all alcohol

In Russia, it is necessary to establish at the legislative level minimum retail prices for all types of alcoholic products – this will help to fight surrogate alcohol more effectively. Such an initiative was put forward by the participants of the meeting in the Committee on Economic Policy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

As Nadezhda Shkolkina, the first deputy chairman of the committee, said, the meeting discussed the mass poisoning of Russians by surrogate alcohol in a number of regions, which killed more than 30 people. The parliamentarian recalled that this had happened before, which means that it is necessary “to understand the cause of what happened, develop solutions, including preventive measures, and, if necessary, make appropriate changes to the legislation or regulations.”

A proposal was also made to tighten control over the production, transportation, use and disposal of methanol alcohol. It is its presence in surrogate alcohol that causes poisoning, Shkolkina said.

The Russian authorities legally set minimum retail prices for certain types of alcoholic beverages. Thus, the state is fighting illegal products. If alcohol costs less, it is automatically considered illegal.

From January 7, 2023 to December 31, 2028, a bottle of sparkling wine has a minimum cost of 239 rubles (in 2022, the cost was 169 rubles). The minimum cost of strong alcohol increased by 4% (vodka costs at least 281 rubles, cognac – 517 rubles, brandy – 375 rubles).