Beer Now Officially 'Alcohol' in Russia

Things just got a lot tougher for any Russian who selected "drink less alcohol" as his New Year's resolution: As of today, beer is officially classified as alcohol there. The Telegraph reports that the beverage, equated with soft drinks by many Russians and previously categorized as a foodstuff, will now face new restrictions. It can no longer be sold from street kiosks or rail stations, can't be sold anywhere between the hours of 11pm and 8am, and can't be advertised on TV. NBC News notes that the change comes as part of a government effort to combat alcohol abuse; 20% of male deaths in the country are tied to booze. (More Russia stories.)