Producers warn of beer shortage during the World Cup

Russian beer producers have warned authorities that if the sale of this beverage is restricted during the upcoming World Cup, fans will turn to the black market.

The warning was made in letters sent to the Russian government, reported The Moscow Times, which added that according to the letters, in Moscow alone the cost of the restriction would amount to $31 million in unpaid taxes due to lack of sales.

The recipients of the communications are Vice President Arkady Dvorkovich and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

Two weeks ago, Moscow authorities announced that the sale of beer in stores or restaurants will be prohibited within a two-kilometer radius of the Luzhniki and Otkritie Arena stadiums, venues for the World Cup.

The ban extends to the FIFA FAN Zone, where fans can celebrate their teams' victories, and will come into effect a few days before the start of the tournament and during its duration.

In another World Cup venue, Rostov-on-Don, the same measures have already been proposed and are being considered in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Sochi, and Volgograd.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia will be the twenty-first edition of the FIFA World Cup. This edition of the event will take place in Russia between June 14 and July 15, 2018, marking the first time that a country in Eastern Europe hosts the championship.