Alcohol poisoning cases are regularly reported in regions throughout Russia. Earlier in the year, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev called them a national tragedy, and urged a crackdown on bootleg alcohol sales in the country, saying about 42,000 are killed or become disabled from alcohol poisoning every year.
Boris Gryzlov said bootleg alcohol claimed 30,000 lives in 2005. "This year, the situation somewhat improved," he said, adding that the figure was still shocking.
President Vladimir Putin highlighted the growing problem in a televised question-and-answer session October 25.
After numerous cases were uncovered where victims appear to have drunk alcohol-based detergents and other lethal chemicals distributed in vodka bottles, Russia's consumer rights watchdog launched investigations into cases of mass alcohol poisoning.
State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov spoke for a state monopoly on alcohol sale. "It's time to raise the issue of a state monopoly on alcohol sales," he said.
Sergei Mironov, the speaker of parliament's upper house, the Federation Council, spoke for a state monopoly on alcohol last week. "We speak for a full state monopoly on the production and turnover of ethyl alcohol," he said, adding that now it is up to the government to decide the matter.
Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev also insisted on a state monopoly on ethyl alcohol turnover. "We will continue to insist on our position," he said.
