Beer now considered alcohol, not food, in Russia as new restrictions take hold. By World News. Email. Dmitry Kostyukov / AFP-Getty Images, file. Russians, like this Muscovite enjoying some suds at an outdoor pub, will no longer have unfettered access to beer, under a new law that takes effect Jan. 1.t will be tougher for Russians to cry in their beer in 2013. Restrictions on when and where beer can be sold go into effect Jan. 1 with a law that declared beer is alcohol, not food. Follow @NBCNewsWorld.