The Russian parliament could pass legislation...

Alexander Zhukov said the State Duma could adopt such a law before the end of the year.

He added that the law would establish a uniform time period when sales of alcohol, including beer, would be banned throughout the country.

At present, Russia"s regional and municipal authorities decree "unhappy hours" at their own discretion.

For example, in Moscow, hard alcoholic beverages are unavailable in most stores from 11 p.m. until 8 a.m. In Chechnya"s capital of Grozny, a mostly Muslim republic in the North Caucasus, alcoholic beverages are not sold in stores after 8 p.m.

ASBEST (Sverdlovsk Province), March 9 (RIA Novosti)