MOSCOW, October 14 (RAPSI) – The Russian government has supported a proposal to increase fines for selling alcoholic beverages to minors to 50,000 rubles (over $1,200), reads a statement on its website posted on Tuesday.

“The bill will provide effective enforcement of the law against those who sell alcoholic beverages to minors,” the statement reads.

Currently, the Administrative Offences Code stipulates fines ranging from 30,000 rubles ($744) to 500,000 rubles ($12,400) for selling to minors. At the same time, the Criminal Code stipulated a minimum fine of 5,000 rubles ($124) for the repeated sale of alcoholic beverages to minors.

“Including the new lower limit in Article 1511 of the Criminal Code will provide a proper tool for regulating the administrative law and for coordinating the sanctions stipulated in the criminal and administrative offences codes,” the government statement said.

In 2013 Russian alcohol consumption averaged 13.5 liters per adult each month, down from a catastrophic 18 liters in 2010, largely due to a successful campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle. In April 2014 the Russian government approved objectives to further reduce consumption levels to 10 liters by 2020, thus reducing the toll the substance has taken on Russia’s demographic, economic and social wellbeing over many years.