Beer ban in bid to curb Russia's alcoholism problem

Former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, with a beer (Getty Images)

Sales of beer on the street have been banned under a law which came into force today in an attempt to curb alcoholism. The former President, Dmitry Medvedev, signed amendments to alcohol laws in 2011 to reclassify beer, previously considered a foodstuff, as liquor.

Stalls and kiosks are now banned from selling beer, and shops cannot sell it between 11pm and 8am. Russians are among the world's biggest drinkers, according to the World Health Organisation, which in 2011 found that the deaths of one-fifth of Russian men were down to alcohol abuse.