In the state Duma introduced a bill banning discounts on alcohol – Interfax

the document’s Authors claim the availability of alcohol is one of the causes of alcoholism in Russia

Photo: panthermedia/vostock-photo

Moscow. 10 Feb. INTERFAX.RU – a Group of deputies in the Duma introduced a bill banning discounts on alcohol. According to the text of the bill posted on the website of the state Duma, the law on state regulation of production and turnover of alcohol is proposed to add a ban on “the promotion of alcohol products”.

In particular, the authors of the document propose to prohibit the free distribution of alcohol among the population, including in the form of gifts, as well as “the use of discounts the prices of alcoholic products by any means, including through the issuance of coupons and vouchers”.

In the explanatory note to the bill States that the availability of alcohol is one of the causes of alcoholism in Russia, and promotion of trade networks serve as an additional incentive for the purchase of alcoholic beverages. “Discounts, which sometimes reach 40-50%, pushing people to the formation of stocks of alcohol and consumption growth”, – stated in the text.

According to the authors of the bill, discounts and promotions, “which are held almost constantly in the vast majority of retail outlets, forcing the consumer to purchase do not need it really product.”

Often discounts and promotions are “purely psychological”, when the effect of the discount is achieved by specifying the price tag of the original deliberately inflated prices, say the authors of the bill. “Thus, in the formation of excessive demand for alcohol even there is no real reduction in the price of the goods. The prohibition of discounts on alcohol products will eliminate excessive demand for alcohol and will ensure the freedom of the consumer in choosing a product,” reads the explanatory note.