The Federation of restaurateurs and hoteliers appealed to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev with a request for accounting of sales of alcohol in the unified state information system (EGAIS). If legal details can not be overcome, that will stop the retail sale of alcohol by restaurants and hotels, which will lead to the disappearance of traditional minibars.
USAIS will start its work from 1 July, however, to the difficulties workers services begin to prepare now, as the newspaper “Kommersant”. By law, the resale of the purchased retail bottles of spirits would be impossible, although it is the main way of realization of alcohol using Minibar items and in some catering establishments. Wholesale purchase at low volumes does not make sense.
“We had to abandon the purchase of alcohol in small quantities in shops, it then becomes illegal,” — said the representative of one of the restaurants in Moscow.
However, according to Vice President for development in Russia and CIS, Intercontinental Hotel Group Aaron Libinson, the loss of alcohol from the mini bars will be a blow for the hospitality industry.
“The popularity of mini-bars is considerably reduced, the sale of alcohol through a minimum, and hotels will not incur serious losses,” he said.
