Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications Andrei Svintsov proposed banning gifts of alcoholic beverages in Russia, Life.ru reported.

He will submit the corresponding bill for consideration by the House of Representatives on December 17. The document proposes to supplement the Administrative Violations Code with a new article regulating penalties for giving away alcohol. Accordingly, for individuals, the fine will be 5 thousand rubles, for officials – from 35 to 50 thousand, and for legal entities – 100 thousand rubles.

This initiative aims to reduce alcohol consumption among the population and support healthy lifestyles. The document notes that over the past four years, alcohol consumption in the country has increased and that current measures to combat alcoholism are not effective enough.

Previously, a bill was submitted to the State Duma proposing to remove alcohol from regular supermarkets and sell it in premises with a separate entrance. According to the authors of the initiative, selling alcohol in stores next to products combined with alcohol is propaganda of alcoholism.