Governor's controversial alcohol curbs spark debate in Vologda
Georgy Filimonov, the governor of the Vologda region, plans to restrict alcohol sales. He plans to limit availability to two hours daily, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Furthermore, alcohol sales will be entirely prohibited on public holidays.
Details of the proposed changes were published on Friday by the independent Russian portal Mediazona and the newspaper "Kommersant." Filimonov's decision has sparked controversy among the region's residents, who are not particularly enthusiastic about such stringent restrictions.
- The residents are not thrilled about this idea: last year, the Vologda region was listed among the top ten regions in Russia for alcohol consumption – commented the portal Goworit Niemoskva.
According to the media, the governor wants to be viewed as a supporter of a healthy and active lifestyle and frequently references Slavic traditions.
At the start of October, Filimonov also announced the erection of a monument to Joseph Stalin in Vologda, explaining it as a response to "requests" from the public. If the initiative to limit alcohol sales is approved, in the Vologda region "it will be like in Chechnya" – noted the RTVI portal.
In Chechnya, alcohol is also only available for purchase for 2 hours a day. These restrictions were introduced due to the strict religious regulations that govern society. The predominant religion in Chechnya is Islam.
