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Russia: Regulator rules Alco-energy drink bans unconstitutional

By  |  November 10, 2015

Russia‘s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service is fighting to remove regional bans on alcohol energy drinks because it says they violate the constitutional right to lawful economic activities, the Izvestia newspaper reported Tuesday.

The watchdog believes that the regional bans unfairly suppress competition on the alcohol market and intends to present its argument to the prime minister‘s cabinet early next year, the report said.

Alcohol energy drinks are currently banned in 38 of Russia‘s 85 regions and other federal subjects, including the two largest cities, Moscow and St Petersburg, the report said.

Last year Russia‘s Supreme Court ruled that regions have the power to impose their own restrictions on the time, place and conditions of commerce, including a complete ban on sales of products containing alcohol, the Interfax news agency reported.

Full content: Europe Online Magazine

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