Russia bans print and Internet alcohol ads

Russian President Vladimir Putin has put a cork in print media and Internet alcohol advertising in Russia, the Kremlin said. Putin signed a ban on advertising alcohol drinks that is to take effect on Jan. 1, 2013, for print media, as many of those companies have annual advertising contracts with alcohol producers, RIA Novosti reported Saturday. The ban on advertising on Russian Internet Web sites takes effect when the law is officially published. Experts say the ban on Internet advertisements will be hard to enforce. Further, if companies choose to, they can dodge the law by advertising with Internet companies that are not based in Russia.