The Russian government has withdrawn the bill on selling alcohol on…
The Russian government has withdrawn the bill on selling alcohol on domestic flights. The Ministry of Economic Development withdrew the legislation on the sale of alcohol in duty-free shops on domestic flights, reported Izvestia citing a document.
Consensus
- The Russian government withdrew a draft law from the State Duma that would have permitted alcohol sales in duty-free shops on domestic flights.
- The draft law was initially proposed by the Ministry of Finance in November 2023.
- The measure was intended to support businesses affected by sanctions and the pandemic.
- The temporary measures were set to last until June 30, 2026.
- The government stated that the initiative had lost relevance and was no longer needed.
Points of divergence
- The draft law was expected to increase revenue by 8.9 billion rubles, and it aimed to support owners of MBTs (duty-free shops) and operators of international airports in Russia. — vedomosti
- From 2019 to 2023, the number of duty-free shops decreased by 20%, and alcohol sales dropped by 64%. Additionally, businesses faced difficulties returning goods due to closed logistics corridors. — riamo
- The Ministry of Finance estimated that maintaining 2022 passenger traffic levels could generate about 8.95 billion rubles in additional revenue from the law's implementation. — riamo
- In 2024, the Russian Interior Ministry proposed setting a limit on alcohol sales per passenger in duty-free shops and recommended measures to prevent immediate consumption after purchase, such as using zip-lock bags, and restricting sales to passengers arriving at their destination. — vedomosti
Coverage (3 sources)
- Government withdrew bill on alcohol sales in duty-free shops — Ведомости
- Russian Government Withdraws Alcohol Sales Bill for Domestic Flights — РИАМО
- Cabinet withdraws bill on alcohol sales in duty-free shops on domestic flights — ТАСС (Telegram)