A bill has been introduced in the State Duma for a total ban on beer and beer based drink ads on TV, radio, and outdoor advertising. The authors say current rules give beer unjustified preferences, and its ads have only expanded the consumer base, including young people. Also, deputy Viktor Zwagelsky proposed requiring alcohol producers to make targeted contributions to narcology clinics, so the industry itself bears part of treatment and rehabilitation costs.

On Monday, deputies Viktor Zavgelsky, Irina Yarovaya, Grigory Ivlev, Dmitry Vyatkin, and Robert Shpigel submitted to the State Duma a draft law "On Amendments to the Law "On Advertising"". Its goal is a complete ban on advertising beer and beverages made on its basis on television, radio, and in outdoor advertising.
In comments to journalists, Viktor Zavgelsky explained: "The bill proposes to eliminate the previously mistakenly established preferences for beer and bring the regime for its advertising into line with the requirements for advertising other alcoholic products."
The law "On Advertising" adopted in 2006 provides a much more lenient approach to beer advertising. It is currently permitted on television from 22:00 to 7:00 and on radio from 24:00 to 09:00 local time. This makes it possible to reach almost all segments of the population and age groups of our society.
The theory that the promotion of beer would lead to the population consuming alcohol of lower strength has not been borne out. The contingent of drinkers has only increased at the expense of children, teenagers, and women of childbearing age.
"The young generation of the country, and therefore the future of Russia as a whole, has come under threat of physical and moral degradation," warns V. Zavgelsky.
In addition, the deputy proposed obliging producers of alcoholic products to make targeted contributions to narcological clinics.
"At present, the burden of paying for this harmful passion falls on the citizens themselves, who have damaged their health, and on the state, which assumes obligations for their medical and social rehabilitation," the parliamentarian explained: "It seems quite justified to me if part of the responsibility for the national drama unfolding is taken on by producers of alcoholic products, that is, those who are in fact making entire fortunes from the population's bad habits".