The Russian government on Friday ruled out establishing a state monopoly for alcohol production, a first deputy premier said.

"[A state monopoly for alcohol] means that we should buy out all private assets [in alcohol production] at market prices. But where will the money come from?" Viktor Zubkov said.

"Even if we buy them out, what will we do next? The state can hardly be an efficient owner. Today, the government ruled against introducing a state monopoly for alcohol," he said.

A Just Russia, a quasi-opposition, essentially pro-Kremlin party, proposed last September a bill to introduce a state monopoly for alcohol in Russia from January 1, 2011.

RYAZAN, March 5 (RIA Novosti)