After seeing this article, I read a headline today in the
Russian press indicating an even greater fear of
counterfeit vodka flooding the market due to the price hike.
Maybe Putin and the Duma will put it back on the 601 list.
Russia Hikes Alcoholic Drink Prices
The Associated Press
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2000; 11:55 a.m. EST
MOSCOW The minimum price of vodka in Russia will rise by about
one-third by the end of February because of new tax rates, the
government said Thursday.
Vodka and any other beverage with a minimum alcoholic content of 28
percent will cost consumers at least 62 rubles, or $2.10, per liter, the
Economics Ministry said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.
The rise comes after a government decree boosting the excise tax for most
alcoholic beverages. The hike will take effect Feb. 25.
The Russian government plays a large regulatory role in Russia's huge
alcohol industry, frequently turning to it for more taxes to boost flagging
revenues. As a result, the country has a huge black market for alcoholic
beverages, and cheap, but occasionally toxic, concoctions are widely
available.
According to the government, Russians consume 2.1 billion liters of vodka
a year, 28 bottles for every man, woman and child.
¸ Copyright 2000 The Associated Press |
