俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫近日签署了一项新法案，啤酒将被正式划归到酒精饮料之列，新法令将加强对啤酒销售的限制。

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill that officially classifies beer as alcoholic¹.

Until now anything containing less than 10% alcohol in Russia has been considered a foodstuff².

The move, signed into law on Wednesday, will allow ministers to control the sale of beer in the same way that spirits are controlled.

Russian alcohol consumption is already twice the critical level set by the World Health Organization.

Although vodka（伏特加） has long been the traditional tipple³ in Russia, beer has soared in popularity, being marketed as a healthier alternative to spirits.

Over the past decade, beer sales in Russia have risen more than 40% while vodka sales have fallen by nearly 30%.

Correspondents say it is common to see people swigging（痛饮） beer in the street and in parks as if they are drinking soft drinks.

It is not restricted to certain stores and is sold around the clock.

"The law brings some order into the sale of beer," Vadim Drobiz, director of the Centre for Federal and Regional Alcohol Market Studies, told US broadcaster Bloomberg.

Last year the Russian beer industry was hit by a 200% tax hike on its products as ministers sought to bring consumption under control.

The new measures - which come into effect in 2013 - will stop alcohol being sold in unlicensed kiosks（报摊，电话亭） , ban its sale from stores between certain hours and restrict its advertising⁴.

In 2009 President Medvedev ordered the government to prepare draft laws on a package of measures to counter growing alcohol abuse.