Russian kids have a snack before school.

Up until yesterday Russia did not consider beer to be an alcoholic drink. It was a thirst quencher, a companion to vodka, something to sip on while you drove to work, but never booze.

The Russians even have a saying, ”Beer without vodka is like throwing money to the wind.” The British have tea, the Russians drink beer.

Until now beer has been considered a foodstuff in Russia along with all drinks under 10 per cent in strength. This meant it could be sold and consumed pretty much everywhere. This change has serious business repercussions for beer brands.

An array of international and local brands could be bought at street kiosks, railway stations and corner shops, like fruit juice or mineral water. “Bus stops and petrol stations account for up to 30 per cent of sales,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

But beer’s new status as an alcoholic drink will prevent it being sold from street outlets, and sales between 11pm and 8am will be banned. Television advertising will also be outlawed.

The reson for this clamp-down is due to Russia, as a country, basically being an alcoholic.

From the SMH:” The average Russian drinks the equivalent of 18 litres of pure alcohol a year, and about 500,000 deaths annually are thought to be drink-related. That includes a large number of road deaths and several thousand cases of drowning.”

Russia, you need a glass of water.

[Source: SMH