Beer no longer classified as food in Russia

A new year brings with it new laws and one going into effect in Russia places beer for the first time ever in the “alcohol” category.

Believe it or not, beer in Russia used to be (at least legally) a type of food.  Under the new classification beer can now only be sold in licensed stores and only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., beer commercials are also now banned.  Previously beer was sold everywhere, from kiosks to bus depots, to vending machines.

The big crackdown comes as Russia’s government is getting tough on alcohol abuse, it’s estimated that one in five male deaths in the country are linked to alcohol.