A Moscow court has thrown out a slander...

The Union of Russian Brewers sued Yevgeny Bryun after he said brewers added pure alcohol to beer to increase its strength and to speed up the fermentation process.

"Taking advantage of his position, Bryun indulged in statements that add to the demonization of beer, making brewers responsible for social woes and distracting from the true causes of alcohol abuse - low living standards, corruption and widespread illegal alcohol sales," the Union said.

The dispute broke out as the Russian government has launched a campaign to curb pervasive alcohol abuse, which it called a "national disaster."

Alcohol consumption surged after the Soviet breakup and has taken a heavy toll on Russians" health, fueling high levels of mortality, above all among working-age men.

"A lot of beer is produced in Russia, but you cannot drink it," Bryun said in December on the Ekho Moskvy radio station, without mentioning any brewers by name. "Beer and other tinned low-alcohol beverages

Pages: [1] 2