Russia classifies beer as alcoholic

BBC World News ^ | 7/21/11 | BBC

[varyouga]

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill that officially classifies beer as alcoholic. Until now anything containing less than 10% alcohol in Russia has been considered a foodstuff.

The move, signed into law on Wednesday, will allow ministers to control the sale of beer in the same way that spirits are controlled. Russian alcohol consumption is already twice the critical level set by the World Health Organization.

Although vodka has long been the traditional tipple in Russia, beer has soared in popularity, being marketed as a healthier alternative to spirits.

Over the past decade, beer sales in Russia have risen more than 40% while vodka sales have fallen by nearly 30%.

Correspondents say it is common to see people swigging beer in the street and in parks as if they are drinking soft drinks.

[varyouga]

Very true. Most older Russians I know laugh at the thought of impairment from beer. Grandmas and kids that can stomach it drink it at meal time. A sad day in world history...

[MWS]

Crap, they’re turning into America.

Thirty years ago, that would have been a good thing. Now? Not so much.

[enraged]

We should have gotten in on the microbew wave over there!
We would have been rich by now!

[Psalm 144]

I am not persuaded that Prozac and Ritalin are improvements over vodka and beer.

[Uncle Ike]

” laugh at the thought of impairment from beer. “

Hey - I’m here to testify that ya can be a card-carrying, disgusting, lush on beer -— it just takes dedication, and bladder control... ;)

[SIDENET]

Correspondents say it is common to see people swigging beer in the street and in parks as if they are drinking soft drinks.

What's the problem here?

:-)

[SIDENET]

Crap, they’re turning into America.

Nah, their commie leader is tough.

Our commie leader is a wuss who wears mom jeans.

[MWS]

That’s true.

Obama would love to be a Communist dictator, but the fact of the matter is that he’d probably find a way to screw that up too.

[cripplecreek]

Samuel Jackson Beer, It'll get you drunk. (Serious language warning)

Dave Chappelle - Samuel L. Jackson Beer

[don-o]

Step One: We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol; that our lives had become unmanageable.

[right way right]

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Lance Armstrong go into a bar together.....
After drinking 3 pitchers of beer Lance says, “Hey bar keep, “What kind of crappy beer is this! I don’t feel no buzz!”

Bar Keep says, “nonalcoholic! Disappointing ain’t it!”

[null and void]

Is kvass still a foodstuff?

[SIDENET]

LOL, one of the all-time classics!

[Fiji Hill]

When I visited Russia in 1972, Moskovskoye beer was available everywhere. It was usually drunk at room temperature, and was the worst beer I had ever tasted. The best beer available at the time was Stella, which was brewed in Egypt. The Egyptians were apparently shipping beer to Russia as payment for Soviet armaments.

[usual suspect]

Ya lublu krepka pivo...nazdarovya

[Yo-Yo]

[MarkL]

Reminds me of an episode of "2 1/2 Men," where Charlie announces that he's giving up drinking, and throughout the episode he only drinks beer and wine!

Mark

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Regulating alcohol in Russia is like regulating sex in a whore house.

[hinckley buzzard]

Usual rubbish. Most "older Russians" who don't know beer is alcoholic are dead from liver failure. Drinking beer like soda pop is one reason for people to have a life expectancy around 60.

[dayglored]

> I am not persuaded that Prozac and Ritalin are improvements over vodka and beer.

Well, for one thing, they're Capitalized. :)