Medvedev sings bill classifying beer as alcohol

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill officially classifying beer as an alcoholic drink, thereby restricting its sales, the Kremlin said, RIA Novosti reports.

Under the bill, alcoholic drinks, including beer, can only be sold in licensed stores.

Beer was earlier classified in Russia as a foodstuff.

The bill comes into force on January 1, 2013.