Russia may impose a ban on sales of spirits in shops after 2100, Interfax news agency quoted a government source as saying on Wednesday.

"The talk is about beverages containing more than 15 percent pure alcohol," the agency quoted an unnamed official as saying.

It said the proposal had already been submitted to First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, who is in charge of Russia's agriculture and alcohol market.

"This (ban) is just one proposal, and it is still under discussion."

A source close to Rosalcohol, Russia's alcohol market watchdog, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, dismissed the report as "speculation which has been going on for quite a while already".

A separate government source told Reuters the nation's alcohol market and restrictions on spirits sales would be on the agenda of a government meeting set for Thursday. He gave no further detail.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called alcoholism a "national disaster", which undermines public health and hampers the economy, and urged officials to enact tough restrictions to try and curb alcohol abuse.

Reuters