Russia plans to significantly increase fines for selling cigarettes and products containing tobacco tar to minors, up to $20,000 for legal persons. Earlier, the State Duma proposed to introduce criminal liability for the sale of vapes to minors.
Russia to sharply increase fines for selling cigarettes to minors
The sale of cigarettes and products containing tobacco tar, including water pipes, to minors could result in legal persons being fined up to 2 million rubles ($20,000). TASS reported on November 26. This was obtained according to the text of the Law on Strengthening Administrative Responsibility for Violations in the Sale of Tobacco Products.
Up to $20,000 for legal persons
The proposed amendment to Article 14.53 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation (violation of restrictions and (or prohibition of) trade in tobacco products, cigarette products, smoke-tar products, and raw materials for their production, shish, and equipment for consumption of smoke-tar products).
According to the bill, the sale of tobacco products to children will be punishable by fines of 200,000 to 300,000 rubles ($2,000 – $2,900) for citizens, 500,000 to 700,000 rubles ($48,000 – $6,800) for officials and 1.5 million to 2 million rubles ($14,000 – $20,000) for legal persons. Currently, such illegal acts are punishable by fines of 40,000 to 60,000 rubles ($380- $580) for citizens, 150,000 to 300,000 rubles ($1,500 – $2,900) for officials, and 400,000 to 600,000 rubles (39 million rubles) for legal persons.
Earlier, the chairman of the Russian Duma. Vyacheslav Volodin said he was preparing a draft law that would create criminal penalties for the sale of vapes to minors and increase fines for such violations. (Read more: Russia plans a new law to introduce criminal liability for the sale of vapes to minors)
