On February 1, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. An experiment to restrict the sale of fruit and berry wines is underway in four districts of the Vitebsk region, Vladimir Papko, Deputy Head of the Internal Affairs Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, informed a BELTA correspondent. During the first quarter of this year, a unified time for the sale of fruit and berry wines has been introduced in all trade facilities in Gorodok, Liozno, Chashniki, and Sharkovshchina districts, from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. Upon completion of the experiment, the Internal Affairs Department, which initiated the proposal, and the Trade and Services Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee will analyse sales volumes of alcoholic beverages and the crime situation in these districts. Based on this analysis, they will consider the possibility of extending this measure to the entire region. The experiment was prompted by an almost 10% increase in the number of citizens who died from accidental alcohol poisoning. An analysis of the causes and conditions of this trend, conducted by law enforcement officers, showed that the primary cause of death from alcohol poisoning was excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, in most cases fruit and berry wines purchased from trade facilities in the region. Measures to combat drunkenness and alcoholism in the Vitebsk region were carried out in 2011 as part of the State Programme of National Actions to Prevent and Overcome Drunkenness and Alcoholism for 2011-2012. In total, over the past year, 208.2 tonnes of alcohol-containing liquid, including moonshine and mash, were seized from illegal circulation in the region (180 tonnes in 2010). 1022 citizens were brought to administrative responsibility for the illegal circulation of alcoholic products. Seven mini-factories for the production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and 98 moonshine stills were identified and destroyed. To promptly respond to violations of anti-alcohol legislation and the illegal production and sale of alcoholic products, the "No to Drunkenness!" hotline operated on the basis of the patrol and post service regiment of the Internal Affairs Department, receiving 180 reports. Of these, 25 were confirmed. Approximately 400 appearances on anti-alcohol topics were made in the mass media. -0-

BELTA