The State Duma rejected in the first reading the bill of the deputy allowing retail sale of alcoholic products and tobacco products only in specialized shops or halls with a separate entrance.
The document was submitted by MP Andrey Svintsov (LDPR). He believes that the locations and sales of such products should be located separately from the locations and sales of other types of goods.
In this regard, the retail sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products is permitted by the draft law only in stationary specialized retail facilities or in a separate retail space (hall, section, department) with a separate entrance inside the retail facility or from the street. Moreover, access of minors to such shops, halls, sections and departments is prohibited.
It is allowed to sell both alcohol and tobacco products in one specialty store. And in a store specializing only in the sale of tobacco products, it is allowed to sell related products, the document also says.
The relevant State Duma Committee on Economic Policy and the Government of the Russian Federation opposed the adoption of the bill. The Committee believes that its implementation "may create unequal conditions for business entities operating in the commodity market in the retail sale of alcoholic beverages."
At the same time, small business entities will be placed in unequal competitive conditions in relation to medium-sized and large businesses, which have more opportunities to redistribute the area of retail facilities that meet the requirements introduced by the draft laws, the committee's conclusion says.
And the government believes that the bill needs significant revision, as "it may lead to the closure of retail facilities where both alcoholic and food products are currently sold," as well as to an increase in the shadow turnover of alcoholic beverages.
In addition, the need to re-equip retail facilities or retail premises will lead to a financial burden on organizations engaged in the retail sale of food, as well as alcoholic beverages, the Cabinet of Ministers indicated in a response to the bill.
Source: