The Ministry of Economic Development in Russia will address the question of inspecting the retail sale of alcohol without prior approval from the prosecutor’s office. This is outlined in a post on the government site and follows the decision made by the Russian government at a meeting of the State Commission for Combating Illegal Trade in Industrial Products.
The commission noted that several risk indicators have been approved to identify violations of the rules governing the retail sale of alcohol and alcohol-containing products. In practical terms, this means new benchmarks will be used to monitor and verify compliance in stores that sell alcoholic beverages.
According to an official statement on the government portal, citizens may one day be empowered to take certain control actions regarding the retail sale of alcohol even without the consent of prosecutorial authorities. The document emphasizes that these measures aim to strengthen oversight and ensure tighter enforcement across retail networks.
Additionally, Andrei Klihas, a former chairman of the Federation Council Constitutional Committee, withdrew a bill on legalizing online alcohol trade that had been submitted to the government. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko confirmed that Klihas sent the proposal, but it was pulled back on June 19 for revision.
Since November 1, 2023, officials began an experimental phase allowing the sale of domestic wine through the Russian Post. The effort was later halted in July, and the related draft law was removed from consideration. The decision reflects a broader pause in moving forward with postal distribution models for alcohol during that period.
Earlier reports indicated that stores might be permitted to distribute products at no charge in certain contexts, signaling ongoing consideration of how incentives and promotions intersect with regulatory controls. The evolving framework highlights how authorities balance enforcement with practical retail operations while weighing public health and consumer protection concerns. [Citation: Official government statements and meeting summaries, attributed on the government portal]