The head of the Altai Republic, Andrei Turchak, directed the regional Ministry of Economic Development to prepare a document within a week on restricting the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. If it passes, alcohol will only be sold in the republic on weekdays.
The day before, the government of the Altai Republic held a meeting of the interdepartmental council to promote public health. Participants discussed the spread of alcohol and tobacco addiction among area residents and its impact on public health. According to the regional Ministry of Health, the death rate in the republic last year exceeded the birth rate for the first time in many years. Among the main causes of death, experts name not only diseases of the circulatory system and cancer, but also traffic accidents that occur during drunkenness and alcohol poisoning.
In this regard, members of the interdepartmental council proposed to strictly limit the distribution of alcohol and tobacco products on the territory of the republic, mainly near childcare facilities and in residential buildings, as well as significantly reduce the time of sale of these items. The head of the region, Andrei Turchak, directed the preparation of the corresponding draft resolution within a week for consideration at the next government meeting.
In particular, this document should include proposals for a complete ban on alcohol markets and alcohol retail in apartment buildings, near kindergartens and schools. A complete ban on the sale of alcohol on weekends and holidays and limits the hours on weekdays from 11 to 19 o'clock, on Friday – to 16 o'clock (now you can buy alcohol any day from 10 to 23 o'clock – editor's note). It is expected to ban the public display of alcohol and tobacco in checkout areas and close all liqueur stations in residential areas.
“We have no goal of closing this or that location or retail chain,” commented initiative of Andrey Turchak on his social network page. – It is recommended that stores currently selling alcohol in residential areas and near schools switch to selling food. We also plan to ban the sale of tobacco and vape mixtures and ingredients for them. This measure will soon be considered by the State Duma of the Russian Federation, after which we will make a similar decision in our republic. And we will conduct raids and purchase tests with the participation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Rospotrebnadzor, deputies and the public, so that the restrictions are adopted not only on paper, but actually in force.”
