Alcohol Permitted for Sale in Moscow's Non-Federal Museums and Concert Halls

Alcohol has been permitted for sale in Moscow's non-federal museums and concert halls. The sale of alcohol in cultural institutions was already under discussion in 2019. Irina Antonova was still alive then, and she spoke out categorically against it:

“This initiative strikes me as incomprehensible, especially in our day. Fifty per cent of our visitors are children. Of course it should not be done. What is the point? Are there really no other places in Moscow where alcohol can be sold? The Pushkin Museum does not have much room for a buffet. Shall we say that at one table adults will be knocking back strong drink, while at the next children will be sipping juice? It is simply ridiculous. Unfortunately, our ministry has rather lost its head over the search for sources of income. Rapture and reverence before how much has been earned, or how many people have come to the museum, are important questions, but by no means the most important ones. One must understand at whose expense they are being settled.”