The Russian Ministry of Finance has prepared a draft order that would limit the maximum alcohol content in ice cream and similar frozen desserts, according to an official statement on the ministry’s website.
It states that alcoholic ice cream should not exceed the strength of kvass, aromatic or spicy syrups, set at 1.2 percent alcohol by volume.
The ministry noted that current frozen desserts can reach 7–10 percent alcohol, similar to some low-alcohol beverages.
Nevertheless, alcoholic ice cream remains included among exceptions to the list of alcohol-containing products and is not subject to the law governing the alcohol market or its restrictions.
The ministry contends that alcoholic ice cream may be sold freely in public parks and near children’s institutions, and there are no prohibitions on selling these sweets to children and teenagers, according to its briefing (Source: Ministry of Finance communications, as reported to RT).
The document also proposes to limit alcohol content in a broader range of items, including fermented drinks, ice creams resembling kvass, whipped frozen fruit desserts, fruits and berries, vegetables, sorbets, mixtures used for their preparation, edible sweet ice, and spicy drinks made from aromatic plant materials (Source: Ministry of Finance briefing).
Rosalkogoltabakkontrol supported the ministry’s proposal, stating that selling alcoholic beverages to children is unacceptable (Source: department representatives quoted by RT).
“Drinking strong drinks will become the norm for children”
In May, officials in the Amur Region’s Ministry of Economic Development and Foreign Affairs sought to restrict the sale of alcoholic ice cream and forwarded their proposal to the Ministry of Finance for consideration.
The concern centered on a plan to set up a tent to sell alcoholic ice cream. Officials highlighted the bright storefronts used by some retail sellers as a cue that alcohol might be marketed in a disguised manner.
One regional briefing observed that such stallholders could effectively offer alcohol through a dessert format, which might normalize drinking among minors and blur the distinction between sweets and alcohol (Source: Amur region coverage, as cited by News).
It is for MPs
State Duma deputy Sergei Gavrilov called for a ban on selling alcoholic ice cream near schools, stalls, and cafés. He suggested restricting artisanal “heated” ice cream sales near educational institutions because the product can reach 4–6 percent strength, raising safety concerns for minors and adults alike. He warned that students could purchase a glass of this ice cream, consume it, and become intoxicated, a claim reported by RIA Novosti.
Sultan Khamzaev, head of the Sober Russia project and a State Duma deputy, expressed support for limiting sales of alcoholic ice cream but disagreed with extending such rules to liquor desserts and alcohol-soaked confections. He noted that there is a broader debate about desserts containing alcohol and their impact on children. He cautioned against drawing parallels to other products and highlighted concerns about microdosing in desserts, arguing that some items could lead to unwanted associations with alcohol for children (Source: statements gathered by socialbites.ca and quoted in regional coverage).