Russian Post will adhere to the current temporary restrictions on the physical sale of alcohol when implementing an experiment on online orders for Russian wine proposed by the Ministry of Finance, Alexei Skatin, deputy general director of the company for e-commerce, said in an interview with RIA Novosti at VEF-2021.
The Russian Ministry of Finance previously published a draft law on conducting an experiment on the Internet sale of Russian wine from January 1 using the specialized website of the Russian Post. The pilot project is proposed to be carried out in Moscow, the Moscow region and Mordovia. The timing of the experiment will be determined by the government, it may also decide to expand the territory in which the delivery of wine.
“We will announce the details of the experiment later. But we will be strictly within the law, in accordance with all the temporary restrictions that currently exist,” said Skatin, answering the question whether it will be possible to purchase wine at night or only at the time allowed by Russian law.
Russian Post, he said, is actively working with executive authorities on a draft law on conducting this experiment. The company plans to complete this work “in the near future” so that the bill can be adopted in the fall session of the State Duma.
According to the law on state regulation of the production and circulation of alcoholic products, retail sales of alcohol in stores are prohibited in Russia from 23:00 to 08:00 local time. At the same time, regional authorities may impose additional restrictions on the sale. Amid the spread of the coronavirus and the self-isolation regime, the authorities of a number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation began to restrict and prohibit the sale of alcohol.
Russian Post couriers are expected to participate in the delivery of Russian wine as part of an experiment on its online sale.
“As for delivery, it is assumed that both the network of branches and couriers will be involved,” Skatin said.