Illegal liquor stores in Krasnodar should be eliminated, according to Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
In the picturesque Krasnodar region of Russia, authorities are taking decisive action against the illegal trade of counterfeit alcohol. However, a recent search for information on this topic has revealed a gap in the available data, with results focusing primarily on unrelated conflict-related events in Krasnodar Krai [1][2].
Nonetheless, it is known that Russian regions, including Krasnodar, have been actively combating counterfeit alcohol for some time. This battle is being waged through inspections, raids on illicit sale points, and the imposition of fines or criminal charges. The efforts are led by local law enforcement, consumer protection agencies, and regulatory bodies, all working together to reduce illegal distribution and protect public health [3].
Recent developments in the Krasnodar region, while not extensively covered in the search results, are more encouraging. The regional governor has underscored the importance of ensuring tourist and local safety from illegal alcohol sales. In the Tuapse district alone, eight points of illegal alcohol trade were discovered in just two days [4].
Effective work against counterfeit alcohol has been reported in several key towns, including Gelendzhik, Novorossiysk, Goryachy Klyuch, and Anapa [5]. The head of the department for consumer affairs and regulation of the alcohol market in the Krasnodar region, Roman Kurinnoy, reported that signs of counterfeit alcohol were found in only 4% of the over 600 inspected trade and catering facilities [6].
Unfortunately, the consequences of consuming poor-quality alcohol can be severe. As a tragic example, at least 10 people died from poisoning by surrogate alcohol in Sochi in early August [7]. Nearly 44,000 liters of counterfeit and unlicensed alcohol without proper documentation have been seized in the city [8].
The Sochi Chapter, Andrey Proshunin, has reported that 360 cases of illegal alcohol trafficking have been prevented since the beginning of the year [9]. The illegal sale of alcohol not only poses a threat to health but also to life, and it causes damage to the economy and harms the image of Kuban as a winemaking and resort region [10].
The Krasnodar region, with around 20 million visitors last year, is a popular tourist destination [11]. Encouragingly, no counterfeit alcohol was found during over 150 inspections in Krasnodar city itself [12]. The seized counterfeit and unlicensed alcohol are currently being stored in specialized facilities of the Sochi UVD pending a court decision [13].
Despite the challenges, Roman Kurinnoy has reported that the region is effectively implementing measures against counterfeit alcohol [14]. However, it is clear that the fight against this issue is ongoing, and further efforts will be required to ensure the safety and health of the region's residents and visitors.
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- Despite the ongoing focus on counterfeit alcohol, there seems to be a lack of information about medical-conditions related to its consumption, which could be considered a gap in health-and-wellness discussions.
- The efforts of the Krasnodar region in combating counterfeit alcohol extend beyond public safety, as they also aim to protect the reputation of Kuban as a winemaking and resort region, thus promoting health and wellness for its visitors and residents.
