In a country that is suffering badly from alcohol-related problems, President, Dmitry Medvedev recently said that Russians should drink more wine to fight widespread alcohol abuse. “Winemaking is one of the sectors that should be developed and contribute to the eradication of alcoholism,” he said at a meeting with the governor of Russia’s southern Krasnodar Territory – a region with a burgeoning local wine industry.

“Countries where this sector is strong have no problems with alcohol abuse: Problems with alcohol abuse stem from other drinks,” Mr Medvedev said.

In a BBC article, it was recently stated that Russian alcohol consumption is already twice the critical level set by the World Health Organisation. Recent figures indicate that every one in five deaths in Russia is alcohol-related. Official statistics show that each year alcohol abuse kills 500,000 Russians.

To help curb alcohol abuse further, earlier this week Mr Medvedev signed a Bill that officially classifies beer as alcoholic. Up until now anything containing less than 10 per cent alcohol in Russia has been considered a foodstuff, so in effect beer has been sold in the past as a soft drink. It is a common occurrence to see people drinking beer in the street or in parks at anytime of the day throughout Russia.

The newly-signed law will allow ministers to control the sale of beer the same way spirits are controlled.

The new measures – which come into effect in 2013 – will stop alcohol being sold in unlicensed kiosks, ban its sale from stores between certain hours and restrict its advertising.