YEREVAN. – Armenian parliament on Wednesday approved in the first reading a draft bill permitting to air alcohol ads from 10p.m. to 6a.m.. 

The draft bill providing amendments to the law on advertising and the law on TV and radio was approved with 66 votes for, 1 against and 2 abstentions.

MP from ARF Dashnaktsutyun Artsvik Minasyan said alternative forces (Prosperous Armenia) and opposition (ARF, ANC and Heritage) boycotted the vote.

The draft bill was presented by the Republican MPs who said the amendments are to improve financial conditions of the TV channels. 

According to the law on advertising, strong alcoholic beverages, except for Armenian brandy, cannot be advertised on television and radio.