Restrictions for the sale of alcohol in the Oblast de Vologda: How will this affect business?

What happened

As of March 1, commercial facilities in the Vologda region can sell alcohol on weekdays only from 12:00 to 14:00. The exception will be on weekends and holidays, when alcohol can be sold as usual, from 8:00 a.m. to 23:00.

In addition, a complete prohibition of the sale of alcohol in stores is introduced, which are located in the facilities of the apartment buildings transferred from residential to non -residential premises, as well as in the basement, the basement and the underground floors of such houses.

The new rules will not apply to restaurants, coffee shops, bars, as well as theaters and hotels: they can sell alcohol as usual. At the same time, a series of conditions will have to meet a series of conditions: to have a special license, at least 40 seats in the hall, comply with Gost and have waiters who dedicate themselves to the service of the guests.

The authorities of the region also expanded the vacation list during which it will not be possible to buy alcohol. The list includes the Day of the Russian Students (January 25), World Health Day (April 7), The Festival of Spring and Work (May 1), International Children Day of the Constitution of the Constitution of the Constitution of Russia (December 12).

As the restrictions explained

According to the governor of Vologda Oblast Georgy Filimonov, who was the initiator of the restrictions, the measures are requested to “turn the critical situation into demography, a great negative contribution to which the population welds.”

Filimonov said that last year the population of the Vologda region and the Russian north decreased by 7.5 thousand inhabitants, and 71% of the deaths are associated with alcohol: “These are myocardiopathy and other diseases of the cardiovascular system, pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, as well as the conduction of drunks, domestic conflicts with serious and much more.” “

The official said that during the year, an increase in the incidence of alcoholism amounted to 30%, and in the federal qualification of the sobriety of the regions of Russia, the Oblast of Vologda occupies a “71 shameful place.” In this context, in the last four years, the alcohol market number has grown more than three times, he emphasized.

What do business and experts say?

In a conversation with RB.RU, a local businessman Alexander said that the new restrictions will negatively affect the business and that he decided to close his bar in the Vologda region. “I close the departure, the business is finishing. The workers reacted with the understanding and wrote a renunciation letter from March 1, ”he said. The underlying profits, according to the employer, will amount to 600-800 thousand rubles per month.

He also said that many points of sale in the region, especially stores aimed at selling alcohol, are closing. “Bristol, Red & White”, the local Pastontorg network leaves the market, and workers will also look for work, “said the businessman.

Those may reformat it, he added to who allows the area (at least 40 seats are needed), therefore, for example, small bars and Spit beer stores will definitely close.

Ultimately, Alexander states that the new measures will lead to the development of the shadow market, which is now present. “I think who wants to drink, he will find and drink. And it doesn’t matter how much it will cost, ”concluded the businessman.

The founder of Krasnoye & White, Sergei Studentov, in a conversation with RBC, said that the restrictions on the sale of alcohol will not help fulfill the task that the authorities of the Vologda region were established. The businessman suggested that most deaths in the region are not associated with “the use of high quality stroke alcohol, but with low quality products, falsification and moonlight.”

Dmitry Terentyev, managing partner of the Alcohol Law and Oporay Expert Law, told RB.ru that the company would have to get used to new conditions and then transform the entire business model in the region. There will probably be a decrease in income, but in what size it is difficult to predict, says the expert. He added that perhaps residents will go to alcohol stores less frequently, but the average control “can grow many times.”

Terentyev points out that the entry threshold and new difficulties will reduce the influx of new market participants, which means that competition will be reduced, and those who face the situation can gain more. “In any case, both residents and businesses are adapted. One month or two, and we will learn many new forms and options to develop businesses in such quite strict conditions, ”he concluded.