Regardless of the strength of the drinks, each of them causes harm to health, especially children. A drunk person cannot always control himself, which means that in an alcoholic state he can cause harm not only to himself, but also to others. That is why the Alcohol Sales Law imposes strict restrictions on its sale and purchase. Despite the prohibitions, alcoholic drinks are sold via the Internet – just type the corresponding query in a search engine. True, they usually still ask for a passport, because this point will be easier to prove than, say, the status of a seller.
However, they must be at least 16 when with their elders to drink or by alcohol.
Religious and Cultural Exceptions
This is because vodka was a big part of Russian drinking. These rules were put in place over the 2000s and 2010s. A suite of tax, sales-hour, advertising, and tracking measures tightened alcohol control and coincided with lower per-capita consumption by 2019. These rules came after a health crisis in the 1990s and early 2000s. Now, they control who, when, where, and how alcohol is sold. The Russian government made alcohol laws stricter after health crises.
Types of Alcoholic Beverages Covered Under the Law
- At the initiative of the Ministry of Health and the Chief Sanitary Doctor of Russia, Resolution No. 16 was issued, classifying beer as alcoholic beverages in December 2000.
- Russia’s drinking age is 18, three years younger than the U.S.
- These steps have helped lower drinking and deaths from alcohol.
- They also cover when and how alcohol can be sold and advertised.
- If you are 20 years old and below, you are not allowed to purchase any alcohol in bars, liquor stores, or just about anywhere where liquor is sold in the country.
If you are 21, you can try out not only different flavors of vodka but also Arak, their second national drink. Arak is carbonated, with a slightly sweet aftertaste. Other alcoholic beverages you can try out include sbiten, ryazhenka, and certain brands of wine and champagne. Yes, alcohol can’t be sold near schools, hospitals, and some other places in Russia. Inspectors visit stores without warning to check if they follow the rules. Police also stop people from drinking in public places.
Support Systems and Resources for Youth
Drinking in public places, with the exception of designated drinking zones, is prohibited regardless of age. Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, has maintained a drinking age of 18. Many states also permit the drinking of alcohol under the age of 21 for religious or health reasons.
Alcohol can only be sold in licensed stores, which typically include supermarkets and specialized liquor shops. The sale of beer and other alcoholic drinks at street kiosks and other temporary stalls is banned. Additionally, sales are forbidden in and near certain locations, such as schools, medical facilities, and public transport hubs. The country shows that strict rules can really help health. By controlling where and how alcohol is sold, Russia has seen big improvements in public health.
Youth Alcohol Consumption
Raising the drinking age in France is part of that initiative. School-age children and young adults also receive some of the same warnings about drinking too much alcohol as do the adults. According to the report, more than 50% of people in the Americas, Europe, and the Western Pacific Region (Japan, Australia, Oceania) drank alcoholic beverages in 2016. By comparison, only 32.2% of people in Africa and 33.1% of people in South-East Asia (India, North Korea, Sri Lanka, etc.) drank in 2016. What’s more, 94.9% of people in the Eastern Mediterranean region (Egypt, Iran, Yemen, etc.) have abstained from alcohol their entire lives. Alcohol consumption, it should be noted, is illegal in many Eastern Mediterranean countries, at least for Muslims.
- Then Federal Law No. 171 was slightly edited, which contains information on the age limit for persons wishing to purchase alcohol.
- To do this, the buyer must present a document certifying his age.
- Many states also permit the drinking of alcohol under the age of 21 for religious or health reasons.
- Alcohol laws vary worldwide, with Russia following a European model.
- But the government decided to limit sales of wine and beer.
- These rules have made a big difference in public health.
On their territory, the sale of alcohol, which has a higher strength than that established by law, is limited. But as an exception, the sale of drinks with a strength exceeding the norm is permitted in closed establishments. One of Russia’s major laws is to prevent the spread of underage drinking drinking age in russia among minors. The offender should also pay at least 2,000 Rubles and “correctional labor” in a Russian prison. In Russia, the minimum age for purchasing and consuming alcohol is clearly set at 18.
The concept of drinking seems to be less of a “big deal” in Europe than in America. Still, some concerns arise, especially among young people. At home, parents or guardians can allow their children to have alcohol.
Family celebrations are not exempt from the drinking age law. Even though it’s common for families to introduce young people to alcohol, it’s not legal. The law doesn’t make exceptions for cultural traditions. The drinking age in Spain is 18 as reported in 2020, and the country has a similar culture as does Italy, France and other European nations. They often sip light alcohol such as wine or beer with meals, and some concerns do arise pertaining this approach used to control alcohol misuse. The country also has experienced greater penalties for drinking on the street as of 2020.
This means that individuals must reach this age before they can legally purchase alcoholic beverages from stores, bars, or restaurants. Italy has set a minimum legal drinking age at 16 years, one of the lowest MLDA in the world. In 2002, Renato Balduzzi, the then Health Minister proposed to raise the minimum drinking age to 18 years. However, selling alcoholic drinks to children under the age of 18 years in premises is considered illegal and attracts a fine of €250 to €1,000. Giving alcohol to those under 16 years is considered a crime and is punishable by up to one-year imprisonment. Despite the regulations, many minors enjoy alcoholic drinks, especially in the company of their parents and during social events.
Stores that sell to minors face much harsher penalties. Russia focuses on stopping the supply of alcohol to minors. Police and officials check places where people drink to make sure they follow the rules. These strict rules show Russia’s serious effort to control alcohol use.