The taxes on vodka will gradually increase to achieve the goal to combat alcohol abuse, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance. The current minimum price on a half-liter bottle of vodka is 89 rubles (€2,3), while the planed minimum price will rise to 200 rubles (€5,2).
The ministry also proposes taxes on cigarettes to increase by 30 percent annually over the next three years.
Alcoholism is a serious problem in Russia. On average every Russian consumes about 18 litres of pure alcohol a year.
Statistics show that the Russian population shrinks with 800.000 every year because of alcohol abuse.
Only In Murmansk Oblast, three persons die from alcohol every second day.
