The Eurasian Economic Union regulator has raised concerns about Russia’s test of selling alcohol online, suggesting the move could clash with union agreements and affect the interests of member states Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. These concerns are outlined in a letter from the Business Development Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission to Russia’s State Legal Department, signaling that online alcohol trade within the union requires careful alignment with shared rules and fair access for all members.
Russia previously banned remote alcohol sales in 2007, a policy that reflected the cautious stance of the time toward distributing alcohol beyond traditional retail channels.
In 2017, a draft law from the Ministry of Finance proposed enabling alcohol sales over the Internet with a target to begin in 2020, but the plan faced pushback from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior, and the effort did not advance. The episode underscored the complexity of balancing public health, consumer access, and regulatory clarity in a rapidly digitizing market.
In April 2021, President Vladimir Putin instructed a pilot involving the Russian Post to test online sales of wines produced on Russian soil, specifically grape products grown within the country. This initiative reflected a broader interest in leveraging digital commerce while supporting domestic agricultural products.
Today, there is a proposal to extend online sales to Russian wines, including still, sparkling, and fortified varieties, with Moscow positioned as a focal market. The plan envisions orders placed via the Russian Post website and delivery within 24 hours of purchase, with the Post Office already preparing operational steps to support the program. The move aims to integrate e-commerce into the distribution of wines from Russian producers, testing logistics, compliance, and consumer demand in a modern retail environment.
The Eurasian Economic Commission cautions that allowing a sale channel that favors only Russian wines could narrow the interests of EAEU members. However, among the union’s peers, Armenia stands out as a significant wine producer, highlighting a broader regional perspective on production scales and trade benefits within the EAEU framework. The Commission’s perspective emphasizes the need for a level playing field that respects the diversity of wine producers across member states while attending to public health, consumer protection, and fair competition within the digital market. These considerations are central to any policy move that touches cross-border commerce, labeling, taxation, and regulatory oversight in a shared economic space. (attribution: Eurasian Economic Commission)