The Russian authorities dismissed on Wednesday rumors that it was planning to introduce further controls on alcohol sales.
The popular daily newspaper Vedomosti reported on Wednesday that the state-run system that controls volume alcohol production (EGAIS) would soon begin controlling retail sales, leading to a possible deficit on the market.
The Prime Minister's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov dismissed fears of an alcohol deficit, similar to the one that plagued Russia in 2006 when EGAIS was set up. The deficit was caused by technical problems with supply of excise stamps, which triggered shortages as retailers could not legally sell bottles without the stamps.
"There is no question of controlling [alcohol] retail sales in the foreseeable future," Peskov said.
Russia has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world, with around 40 percent of people drinking excess amounts on a regular basis, according to health ministry statistics.
In August, the Russian president passed a law restricting sales of beverages containing more than 15 percent alcohol between 10 pm and 10 am in a bid to curb the problem, which is one of Russia's biggest killers.
MOSCOW, May 11 (RIA Novosti)
