Beer producers are asking the Federation Council to support distance selling

Moscow, February 9 – The Association of Beer Producers (APP) appealed to the Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko with a request to support the adoption of a bill to lift the ban on the distance sale of alcoholic products, according to an appeal to the Chairman of the Federation Council (available to the News Agency).

“The Association of Beer Producers asks to support the position of the business community for the speedy adoption of a bill to lift the ban on the remote sale of alcoholic products,” says the letter, signed by the Executive Director of the APP Vyacheslav Mamontov.

The Government of the Russian Federation is now considering draft amendments to the law on state regulation of the production and circulation of ethyl alcohol and alcohol-containing products, related to their remote retail sale, that is, via the Internet. .

The ban on the sale of alcohol at a distance was supposed to reduce sales channels in order to reduce the consumption and circulation of illegal alcoholic products; Meanwhile, according to the association, a completely different result was obtained in the form of “a whole market of shadow turnover of alcohol”. They believe that lifting the ban will eliminate the shadow market, dramatically increase taxes and excise duties, and subsidize manufacturers and restaurant businesses.

Moreover, with the introduction of digital labeling of lagers and beers, there will only be more points of control for brewing products through online sales, AMS adds. Moreover: the age of the buyer himself can be controlled both at the stage of concluding the contract, and when transferring the goods – by checking the QR code and the document confirming the customer’s receipt of the goods. But at the same time, the prevention of selling must also be ensured – for example, in places where it is forbidden to sell, or outside the permitted time.

Already, it is proposed to expand the pilot project for the sale of Russian wine via the Internet – which is being implemented by the Russian Post – to other categories of alcoholic beverages. “In order to support companies in a difficult economic situation from the pressure of unprecedented sanctions, we ask you to expedite the adoption of the bill and allow remote trading to begin as early as July 1, 2023,” the appeal read.