It was always well known that the Russians knew how to drink, but it has been revealed that
anything containing less than 10% alcohol was considered to be ‘foodstuff’ by our Soviet friends (and
some former members of Arsenal F.C).
One can only guess what they’d make of Carling.
President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill that will legally recognise anything with an alcohol
content of more than 0.5% as alcoholic. The new bill will take effect from 1 January 2013 and will
also limit the hours in which beer can be sold.
Bringing new meaning to the term ‘liquid lunch’, beer consumption has soared in Russia after being
marketed as a ‘healthier’ alternative to the native tipple of vodka. This lead to people drinking
beer ‘like soft drinks’ and more alcohol problems in a nation with an alcohol consumption already
twice the critical level set by the World Health Organisation.
Along with a 200% tax increase on beer, the new measures will stop alcohol being sold in petrol
stations, public transport stops, and unlicensed kiosks as well as restrict advertising in hopes to curb
consumption.
Boris Yeltsin must be turning in his grave.
By Jonathan Anderson
