Decree on the sale of alcoholic products. Rules for the sale of alcoholic products

How to succeed in the alcohol market? It is necessary to arm yourself with an up-to-date source that will provide information: what is the law on alcohol, its nuances and innovations.

The law on the sale of alcoholic products is periodically amended in order to improve the quality of alcoholic beverages purchased by buyers, to make it unacceptable to supply low-quality alcohol. The latest adjustments to the rules for the sale of alcoholic products were added at the beginning of 2017.

Rules for the sale of alcohol

The profitability of the sale of alcoholic products is explained by its demand, which never falls. Consumers consume alcoholic products. Regardless of factors such as inflation or crisis. In the alcohol market, each participant in this business receives his share as an entrepreneur and a seller. Therefore, such activities were profitable at all times, and often they were carried out illegally.

The illegal trade in such a product is the main reason why all issues related to alcoholic products are controlled by the state at the highest level. For those who have chosen a business in this area, you must purchase a license. You can purchase it by submitting documents that the relevant service will require, it also decides whether the entrepreneur will receive a license to sell alcohol-containing products or not.

The list of documents that are required to obtain a permit for the sale of an alcoholic product:

• characteristics of the products to be licensed;
• certificates of registration of the cash register;
• official permission from authorities;
• contact information, details;
• a document confirming the payment of the authorized capital;
• company charter.

Regional rules for the sale of alcoholic products

Legislative conditions for industrial warehouses and property premises:

• the area of ​​the area in the village must correspond to 25 sq.m;
• the area of ​​the area in the city should be from 50 sq.m.;
• conclusion of a lease for a period of at least 1 year.

The time frame clause contains its own characteristics: in Moscow, the sale of an alcoholic product from 8.00 to 23.00 is allowed, and in the Moscow region, the sale policy is more limited to the schedule from 11:00 to 21:00. In St. Petersburg, the opportunity to purchase alcohol has been extended until 22:00. Sales schedule of the Novosibirsk region from 9:00 to 22:00.

The duties of the seller are to evaluate the appearance of the product, check the condition of the container, product description, information about the supplier and the brand of the manufacturer.

Personnel involved in the sale of alcoholic goods, namely a bartender, waiter, seller or barmaid must work in appropriate conditions:

• a room equipped with the necessary equipment;
• availability of accessories for customer service;
• utensils for measuring provided alcohol.

The sale of goods is carried out using the cash desk, which provides the buyer with a check confirming the payment for the purchase. If the seller violates the procedure for the sale of an alcoholic product, then he is liable for violation of the rules of the retail sale contract.

Where you can not distribute alcoholic products

There are places where it is prohibited by Federal law to sell alcohol:

• institutions and establishments of a children's, sports, medical, educational and cultural nature;
• in military areas;
• in non-stationary types of trade zone;
• public urban or suburban transport, stops on its route, metro stations, gas stations;
• at airports, areas of mass presence of people and increased insecurity, railway stations, places of wholesale or retail trade.

In addition to the above points, the territories adjacent to these objects are also taken into account. Bars, shopping areas that sell these products around the clock, as well as cafes are considered an exception.

Law on the sale of alcoholic products

There is a list of prohibitions established by law, the essence of which is the prohibition:

1. Propaganda of alcoholic products in printed form, strong alcoholic products on the Internet;
2. Raise the cheapest price of vodka by more than 40%;
3. Distribute any alcoholic product without an inscription about its harm to the health of the buyer;
4. Drinking alcohol in legal and illegal places;
5. Buying beer after 12 midnight containing more than 5% ABV.

The label of an alcoholic product must comply with the following rules: place of preparation, expiration date, bottling date, volume of the purchased product, its nutritional value, contraindications for the use of this type of product, a list of ingredients involved in the preparation of this drink, if the product is genetically modified, then there must be corresponding sticker.

Products are issued as follows: a sample is placed on the showcase, which is available; information about the cost, the name of the product is attached to it. Products such as wine, cider, beer can be sold on tap, in which case it is necessary to indicate the name and cost of the drink in the amount of 1 liter and 100 g.

What fine can you get

In case of violation of the laws in the alcohol market, the violator will be fined. The arrival of new rules for the sale of alcohol is driving entrepreneurs who are engaged in small business into a strict framework.

What penalties await someone who violates the rules of the sale of alcoholic goods:

1. Confiscation of alcoholic products in the absence of a license, as well as a fine of 10,000 to 15,000 rubles for those engaged in entrepreneurial activities, for organizations from 200,000 to 300,000 rubles.
2. Confiscation of a batch of a counterfeit brand of alcoholic goods, the appointment of an appropriate examination and a fine for the seller 4,000-5,000 rubles, for an entrepreneur 10,000-15,000 rubles, and for organizations 200,000-300,00 rubles in case of detection of a counterfeit product brand.
3. The entrepreneur is obliged to pay a fine of 5,000 - 10,000 rubles, for an organization this amount increases several times: 50,000 - 100,000 rubles if invalid data is provided in the declaration in the retail sale of alcoholic goods.
4. The store manager pays a fine of 5,000 - 8,000 rubles in case of violations of the rules of the state body that deals with the retail sale of alcoholic goods. In case of refusal to pay the fine, the amount increases from 6,000 to 12,000 rubles.

Having studied all the nuances of this law in this article, it will become more clear for an entrepreneur what needs to be done for his business in order not to be fined and continue his activities.

The sale of alcoholic products is allowed only to certain enterprises that comply with certain conditions and requirements. To perform this process, you must obtain a license, and the organization of the sales process itself must be carried out according to certain rules. If entrepreneurs violate the terms of the law, severe penalties will be applied to them.

Legislative regulation

The process of selling alcohol is regulated by Federal Law No. 171, and numerous amendments are regularly made to it. At the beginning of 2018, sellers were informed about the tightening of the alcohol sales process. Changes concern not only trading establishments, but also manufacturers.

On January 1, 2018, a special grace period began, during which all producers and sellers of alcohol must make numerous adjustments to their business in order for it to comply with the requirements of the law. Such a delay lasts for six months, after which the organizations will be subjected to stringent inspections, the main purpose of which will be to identify violations. The law on the sale of alcoholic products provides that from July 1, 2018, different sanctions will be applied to violators.

Numerous changes will affect not only entrepreneurs, but also direct consumers. The main purpose of the introduction of changes is the fight against the illegal creation of alcoholic beverages. In addition, a transparent and understandable system will be created to control the production of alcohol and its sale. At the same time, an increase in the cost of production is expected, which will positively affect the fight against alcoholism.

What additions have been made?

The changes apply to all citizens and companies specializing in the production or sale of alcoholic beverages. The sale of alcoholic beverages will be allowed from July only if there is a new business format.

The number of problems and worries will also increase for regulatory authorities, as they will have to conduct regular checks to determine whether the numerous requirements of the law are being met.

The main additions introduced in 2018 include:

• the sale of alcoholic products via the Internet is not allowed;
• equipment used in the creation of such drinks must be correctly registered;
• individuals cannot transport more than 5 liters of unlabeled alcohol-containing products in a car;
• due to the widespread introduction of the EGAIS system, reliable and effective protection against the sale of alcohol at the wrong time will be provided, and information about the brand of the purchased drink will be on the check;
• the punishment applied to citizens or companies that violate the law in the field of production and sale of alcohol is significantly tougher, and it provides not only for the imposition of significant fines, but even the possible application of criminal liability for violators.

By changing the information in the law, amendments were introduced to the Code of Administrative Offenses. Local authorities have the ability to supplement legislation, but only in the direction of tightening, not softening.

The nuances of selling on the Internet

Since the beginning of 2018, the sale of alcohol through various websites has been completely prohibited. Such a restriction on the sale of alcoholic products is due to the fact that citizens often buy such drinks at the wrong time. If the requirements of the law are violated, then the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for serious penalties:

• individuals pay a fine in the amount of 3 to 5 thousand rubles;
• for officials, a fine is imposed, ranging from 25 to 40 thousand rubles;
• companies will be required to pay from 100 to 300 thousand rubles.

Such strict measures will help ensure that companies and citizens will really take a responsible approach to the requirements of Federal Law No. 149. Based on this law, those sites are being blocked, on the pages of which there is an advertisement for products containing alcohol. Due to this measure, it is planned that the amount of alcohol consumed by Russian citizens will be reduced.

In addition, the Ministry of Finance is independently developing a special project, on the basis of which the sale of alcohol via the Internet will be officially prohibited.

How to register equipment correctly?

The changes also affected the equipment designed to create various alcoholic beverages. The sale of alcoholic products is permitted if these drinks are created on high-quality and correctly registered equipment. If the use of illegal devices and units is detected, then significant fines are imposed, not only to companies, but also to individuals. The punishment is represented by large fines:

• for individuals - from 3 to 5 thousand rubles;
• for officials - from 20 to 50 thousand rubles;
• for companies - from 100 to 150 thousand rubles.

In addition, significant fines are introduced for the use of pharmaceutical ethyl alcohol in the production process.

What restrictions apply to the rules of transportation?

In Art. 14.17 of the Code of Administrative Offenses indicates that since the beginning of 2018, certain restrictions have been introduced in the process of transporting alcoholic beverages. Individuals cannot transport unmarked alcohol in a car in large quantities, and it does not matter where it was produced. For such a violation, a fine is imposed in the amount of 3 to 5 thousand rubles. Additionally, all products will be withdrawn.

It is allowed to transport no more than 5 liters per person.

The nuances of the introduction of the EGAIS system

It already operates in many trade organizations. The rules for the sale of alcoholic products are that such a system controls the possibility of selling alcohol during unauthorized periods of time. Additionally, it is guaranteed that there is no possibility that illegal alcohol will get into retail sales.

The EGAIS system makes it possible to create a single database that includes all types of alcohol. Each checkout will have a special scanner to control the sale of alcoholic beverages. It will be connected via the Internet to this base. When using this equipment, information is read from the excise stamp, and this information will additionally be duplicated on the receipt.

An undeniable advantage of such an organization for the sale of alcoholic products is that each buyer can receive a lot of important data about the drink they buy.

Additionally, the possibility of introducing a special GOST for brandy is being developed, since the turnover of illegal cognac is considered too high. Based on the amendments, brands are allocated to a separate category of alcohol. This will improve its quality, as well as simplify the process of work of regulatory authorities.

Tougher punishment

In addition, the changes affected the penalties for violation of the law. Even criminal liability is introduced for the sale of alcoholic products with violations. In addition to fines, arrests, community service, or even imprisonment for a sufficiently long period are now applied. Two articles are introduced into the Criminal Code:

• Illegal production of alcohol. If low-quality goods are created by illegal methods, this will lead to serious penalties. They are represented by a fine in the amount of 2 to 3 million rubles, as well as forced labor for a period of 1 to 3 years. In addition, imprisonment for up to three years may be applied. If a collective violation of the law is revealed at all, then the fine is increased to 4 million rubles, and forced labor for up to 5 years or imprisonment for up to 5 years is also imposed.
• Illegal sale of alcoholic beverages. Each company that sells such drinks must have a license to sell alcoholic beverages. For lack of permission, a fine is imposed in the amount of 50 to 80 thousand rubles. If the presence of counterfeit excise stamps is revealed, then the fine is increased to 500 thousand rubles, and imprisonment for 8 years or forced labor can also be applied.

Additionally, when determining a specific punishment, it is taken into account what kind of damage was caused. If the sale of alcoholic products to minors is carried out at all, then both the seller and the entire trade organization are punished.

Application of collective responsibility

The problem of soldering young people is considered the most acute for the state. It is assumed that children are primarily influenced by older young people, so amendments will soon be adopted, on the basis of which not only sellers and trade organizations, but also parents will be held accountable.

The list will include citizens who, at the request of young people, purchase alcoholic beverages for them.

What days will alcohol not be sold?

Introduced special days of sobriety. This requirement for the sale of alcoholic products was supported by many regions, which, in turn, independently tightened such amendments, so the number of days when citizens would not be able to buy alcohol was increased.

Alcoholic products are not sold on the following days:

• the last day of school before the summer holidays;
• when holding graduation balls;
• June 1, since this day is the day for the protection of childhood;
• July 27 - youth day;
• September 1 - the first day of school;
• September 11 is sobriety day.

In addition, regional authorities significantly increase the number of days when it is forbidden for various trade organizations to sell alcohol. Usually this includes any city holidays.

When is alcohol allowed to be sold?

Federal Law No. 171 additionally contains information about what time it is allowed to sell alcoholic beverages. These requirements remained unchanged in 2018, so it is not allowed to sell alcohol after 23:00. In many regions, this measure has been significantly tightened, so in some cities it will not be possible to purchase products after 22:00 or 21:00.

It is allowed to start the sale only from 8:00, but in some cities this time is extended to 9:00 or 10:00. Regions can exclusively extend this period of time.

Age restrictions

Quite a long time ago there was information about the need to amend the legislation regarding the permissible age for the purchase of alcohol. Therefore, it is planned to change from 18 years to 21 years.

The initiator of such a project is the Ministry of Health. But at the same time, the bill is still under consideration, so significant changes have not yet been introduced at the beginning of 2018.

Punishment for selling without a license

Every liquor company must pre-license this process. Exceptions are situations:

• sale of medical drugs containing alcohol;
• sale of products by an intermediary on behalf of a company holding a sales permit.

In other situations, a license to sell alcoholic beverages is required. If not, then the following penalties apply:

• officials pay a fine in the amount of 500 thousand rubles. up to 1 million rubles, and they will also be disqualified for a period of 2 to 3 years;
• companies pay a fine in the amount of 3 million rubles. up to 1/5 of the profit for the year of work, all products are confiscated, and the activity of the enterprise can be suspended for a period of 60 to 90 days.

Thus, the sale of various alcoholic beverages should be carried out by companies only taking into account many legal requirements. If they are violated, significant penalties are applied to them. They can be represented not only by large fines, but also by arrest or suspension of activities. In 2018, significant changes were made to the legislation, so the penalties were toughened. Also, companies involved in the production or sale of liquor must completely change the format of their business in order to legally continue to operate.

Fines for violating the rules for the sale of alcohol can reach 300 thousand rubles, and the company is also threatened with confiscation of goods. If you do not comply with the sale time when selling alcohol or sell alcohol without a license, the company may suffer heavy losses. What are the basic rules you need to know.

Read our article:

If a company sells alcohol with violations, the administrative body has the right to hold it accountable (Article 14.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). For example, if a company:

• sells alcohol without a license,
• does not respect sales hours,
• violates other restrictions.

The fine will be up to three hundred thousand rubles with confiscation of goods.

The sale of alcohol in Russia is carried out in accordance with the “On State Regulation of the Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products and on Restricting the Consumption (Drinking) of Alcoholic Products” (hereinafter referred to as Law No. 171-FZ). Consider what requirements are most often violated by sellers and how to properly organize the sale of alcoholic beverages.

You can sell alcohol only in stationary objects

The sale of alcohol is prohibited in non-stationary retail facilities (clause 9, part 2, article 16 of Law No. 171-FZ).

The Supreme Court has stated that a structure is fixed if it:

• has a strong connection with the foundation and the land;
• joins engineering communications;
• information about which the owner has entered in the Unified State Register of Rights to Real Estate and Transactions with It (Determination No. G10-7 of the RF Armed Forces dated 06/09/2010).

The concept of such a structure also contains the law (clause 5, article 2 of the Federal Law of December 28, 2009 No. 381-FZ “On the Fundamentals of State Regulation of Trading Activities in the Russian Federation”).

It is necessary to confirm the capital nature of the building where the trade is carried out, so that the company can prove that it does not violate this restriction when selling alcohol and other similar products. Documents will help with this. To create a stationary object, the developer draws up the rights to the land plot and a building permit. Based on this information, the court determines whether the disputed object is real estate. If the object is not stationary, the company faces sanctions.

For conducting illegal sale of alcohol will be punished in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation

The company was unable to challenge the fine for violating the rules for the sale of alcohol-containing products. The court concluded that the applicant had been trading in a non-stationary facility. The administrative body that issued the decision on the fine submitted documents to the court. He presented a copy of the act of acceptance into operation of a temporary non-residential building of a beach and entertainment complex with a cafe-restaurant, a scheme for locating non-stationary retail facilities on sites and a land lease agreement.

The court concluded that the applicant company had received a land plot for the placement of a beach and entertainment complex without the right to build real estate objects. The commission, which signed the act of commissioning, had the authority to accept buildings of a non-permanent nature. According to the technical data sheet, the foundation under the disputed building is a reinforced concrete slab. Such a basis does not indicate a strong connection between the building and the land (decree of the Thirteenth AAC dated November 14, 2016 No. 13AP-24891/2016 in case No. A56-40963/2016).

In another case, the court also found that the building was not a fixed facility and that the company was violating restrictions on the sale of alcohol. He pointed out that the building does not have features that allow it to be classified as a fast food establishment, since there were no communications (toilet, sinks, etc.). The entrepreneur was selling alcohol (beer) in a non-stationary trading facility. Rospotrebnadzor lawfully brought the violator to justice (decree of the Samara Regional Court dated February 10, 2017 No. 4a-98/2017).

When selling alcohol, please be aware of local law requirements regarding allowed selling times.

As a general rule, the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited from 23:00 to 08:00 local time. In addition, the legislative bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have the right to introduce additional restrictions on the sale (paragraph 2, paragraph 9, article 16 of Law No. 171-FZ, paragraph 12 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation of July 11, 2014 No. 47). In particular, when selling alcohol, you need to check according to local legal acts whether trading is allowed until 22 or 23 hours, or is it prohibited from now on. Other restrictions may also be present. For example, the city may establish a ban on the night sale of alcoholic beverages or an obligation to notify the trade during mass events (an appeal ruling of the Lipetsk Regional Court dated March 14, 2016 in case No. 33-741 / 2016).

From what time in a particular region the sale of alcohol is stopped, we indicated in the table. Please note that there may be exceptions in the legislation of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and in one case or another, the restriction will not apply, or, on the contrary, special restrictions or a complete ban on sale will be imposed. To find out in accordance with what schedule to conduct the sale of alcohol in a given subject of the Russian Federation, check out local requirements.

If the company violated the rules for the sale of alcohol, there must be strong grounds to challenge the sanctions

The court upheld the provisions of the regional law. The government of the republic has established a ban on the retail sale of alcoholic products from 20:00 to 14:00 local time. The exception was the trade conducted by organizations and individual entrepreneurs in the provision of public catering services (sale of beer, cider, poiret, mead). The court considered that the conditions are not discriminatory for economic entities (appellate ruling of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of March 22, 2017 No. 74-APG17-3).

Ensure that the building in which the company sells alcohol products is not subject to other legal restrictions, such as local restrictions. Go to court if the company was held liable unlawfully.

For example, the applicant contested the points of the order of the administrative authority. The court concluded that the company had the right to sell alcohol in a stationary facility on the ground floor of an apartment building. The law does not restrict this possibility at the federal and regional levels (Decree of the Arbitration Court of the North-Western District dated July 4, 2017 No. F07-6558/2017 in case No. A52-2281/2016).

The premises for trade must be rented for at least a year

By law, premises for the sale of alcohol must be rented for a period of at least a year (clause 10, article 16 of Law No. 171-FZ). Pay attention to the area of ​​​​the object, as well as the type of products sold. The law provides for specific area standards. They apply to alcoholic beverages with the exception of beer, beer drinks, cider, poiret, mead. The law requires that the total area of ​​stationary retail facilities and warehouse facilities be at least 50 square meters for each location of a separate subdivision in urban settlements and at least 25 in rural settlements (clause 10, article 16 of Law No. 171-FZ).

There are special requirements for IP

If you are an individual entrepreneur, prove that you are engaged in the provision of catering services. The law allows individual entrepreneurs to sell alcohol in non-stationary retail facilities. The rules for individual entrepreneurs state that entrepreneurs can sell beer and beer drinks, cider, poire, mead when it comes to providing catering services. At the same time, the quick service facility must be equipped with engineering systems and equipment (toilet, washbasin, hot and cold water supply, etc., see, for example, the decision of the Samara Regional Court of May 13, 2016 No. 4A-522/2016).

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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 trying with might and main to demonstrate concern for the future of the Russian nation. The State Duma adopted several hundred amendments to Law 171 FZ. Big "alcohol" changes await manufacturers, distributors, consumers.

From January 1, 2019, the countdown of the grace period provided to manufacturers and distributors of alcoholic beverages begins. During this time, they will have to bring their business into line with the new amendments to the Law on the production and sale of alcohol. The six-month delay provides for the absence of sanctions for violation of the updated legislative acts. The sanctions will take effect from July 1, 2019.

These changes will not go unnoticed by Russian buyers. According to the deputies, the new laws are aimed at combating the shadow production of alcoholic beverages, organizing a transparent system for controlling production and sales. And, of course, to the fight against 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 beverages. They will have to master a new format of business and alcohol consumption. Regulatory authorities will have more worries, because the law has affected not only the real sector of business and life, but also the global network.

From January 1, 2019, the following amendments and additions will come into force:

• It is forbidden 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 unmarked alcohol-containing products;
• The EGAIS system will begin to operate, which will provide a new principle for controlling the sale of alcohol;
• The punishment for violating the "alcohol" laws has become much more severe and includes not only huge fines.

Changes in the federal law are reflected 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 forbidden to advertise the sale of alcoholic beverages on the Runet. The Code of Administrative Offenses provides for liability for violation of the restriction in the form of a fine:

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

The new version of Law 149 FZ provides for the blocking of Internet resources that place advertisements on their pages for the sale of alcohol-containing products and alcoholic beverages.

This measure is designed to limit the consumption of alcoholic products in Russia.

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation is developing a draft law on the procedure for the online sale of alcohol, which will take effect from July 1, 2019. Currently, the sale of alcohol-containing products in Runet is officially prohibited. The agency believes that the ban is a sham, as 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 a resource in the egais.ru zone. Marketplaces located in another zone will be blocked.

On the registration of alcohol-producing equipment

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

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

Lack of registration entails a fine and confiscation of this equipment:

• Individuals - three to five thousand rubles;
• Officials - 20-50 thousand rubles;
• Legal entities - 100-150 thousand rubles.

Penalties are also introduced for the use of pharmaceutical ethyl alcohol in the production of alcoholic products.

According to Article 14.17.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, from January 1, 2019, the transportation of unmarked 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, the seizure of the transported products.

The permissible volume of unmarked alcohol transported by individuals across the territory of 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 (EGAIS) led to a legal transition to a global form of control over the circulation of alcoholic beverages. This will eliminate illegal alcohol from retail.

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

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

A big plus of EGAIS is that information about the origin of each bottle of alcohol will become available to customers.

A draft law 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 171 FZ will make it possible to separate brandy into a separate category of alcoholic products. This will increase the availability of high-quality alcohol and facilitate the work of regulatory authorities.

Tougher punishments for violating the "alcohol" law in 2019

The Administrative and Criminal Codes of the Russian Federation received many new articles and amendments regarding the responsibility of Russians for violations of "alcohol" laws. Arrest, community service, and imprisonment were added to 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 in the amount of two to three million rubles or forced labor for one to three years, 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 should be commensurate with the damage done.

The Code of Administrative Offenses of Russia is expected to change in terms of collective responsibility for soldering teenagers and young people. According to sociologists, most teenagers try alcohol for the first time in the company of the older generation. Now the responsibility for the sale of alcohol to minors is imposed only on retailers.

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 were on this list. The legislators did not ignore the sociable drinking companions who offer the minor to "drink a glass", which are also proposed to be held accountable.

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

• On the last day of school;
• During graduation balls;
• June 1st, when children's day is celebrated;
• July 27, when the youth celebrate their day;
• On the first school day of schoolchildren;
• September 11 - All-Russian Day of sobriety.

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

• Weekend;
• June 12 - celebration of the Day of Russia;
• September 12 is the Day dedicated to the celebration of the family.

Paragraph five of Article 18 of the Law 171 FZ, which imposes a restriction on the time of sale of alcohol, remained unchanged. Given the prolongation of the law, we should expect a widespread ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages after 23.00 in 2019. The resumption of the sale of alcohol is allowed only from eight in the morning.

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

The State Duma has repeatedly received bills to change the current age limits. Experts refer to the international practice of developed countries and the disappointing statistics of alcohol consumption in Russia.

So, 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 don't know the taste of alcohol.

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

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