Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (left) during a meeting with members of the House Council of the Russian Federation Council at the Government House of the Russian Federation. Photo: Dmitry Astakhov/POOL/TASS
Starting September 1, 2023, consumers will be able to verify the authenticity, quality, and place of production of purchased alcohol, including low-alcohol beverages. This was announced by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday at a meeting with senators.
The prime minister also recalled that a law was recently approved that strengthens liability for the illegal circulation of methanol under the guise of alcoholic products. The head of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, called for the denaturation of methanol to prevent death and poisoning. However, according to her, this is opposed by a “powerful lobby” and a “bureaucratic machine”.
Matvienko referred to the data of the Ministry of Health: in Russia, more than 1,000 people a year suffer from methanol poisoning.
– Methanol is a highly effective poison and is produced in the amount of 4.5 million tons per year for the needs of the chemical industry, it does not differ in taste and smell from ethyl alcohol. Therefore, denaturation is necessary, a change in taste, color or smell, explained the head of the Federation Council.
Matviyenko also proposed to impose a special tax on all ethyl alcohol produced in Russia, including that produced for the needs of the medical and perfumery and cosmetics industries. Due to its low cost, it is used to produce illegal vodka. At the same time, ethyl alcohol produced for alcoholic products is subject to a high excise duty.
Matvienko cited data from last year, according to which, with the drug needs at 1.6 million decalitres (dal) of medical alcohol, 6.8 million decalitres were produced, that is, four times more than the real need.
– Where are you going? Of these 5.2 million deciliters of surplus medicinal alcohol, 13 million deciliters of illegal vodka and other alcohol-containing products were produced, Matviyenko said.
According to her, the treasury lost 32 billion rubles on this.
At the same time, Matviyenko noted that the payment of the excise duty on alcohol purchased by health institutions should be subsidized by the state.
In turn, Mikhail Mishustin noted that the mass cases of poisoning with the drink “Mr. Cider” in various regions of Russia, which occurred in early June, were not associated with a moratorium on trade inspections.
– There was a crime, robbery, which caused the death of people. The perpetrators have been found and will be held accountable before the law,” Mishustin said.
The senators also drew the prime minister’s attention to the issue of travel safety. In his opinion, additional regulation is needed in this area. Mishustin invited the senators to prepare their proposals.
“People want to have fun, not fear for their children,” Mishustin said.
The meeting also discussed the benefits for volunteers participating in the NWO. Mishustin noted that they should receive the same insurance payments as other military personnel participating in the SVO. The prime minister also recalled that before July 1, the volunteer formations had to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense to give them the proper legal status.
– And they will be protected by the same package of insurance guarantees as military personnel. Such an instruction will be given… We will prepare a government response in the near future, the prime minister said.
