The proposal is now being discussed with other ministries in Moscow. If approved when the government will outline the new tax policy for the years to come, the income from alcohol tax will rise with 316 billion rubles (€8 billion).
The proposal from the Finance Ministry includes a doubling of the alcohol tax already from January 1st, 2012 followed by a year-by-year increase till 2014 when the tax on one liter of pure alcohol is stipulated to be 900 rubles (€23). Such tax levels will bring the cost of a bottle of 40% vodka up to the level of many other European countries.
Today, the cheapest bottle of vodka you can buy in a shop in Russia will cost you around 100 rubles (€2,50).
Read also: Murmansk bans sale of vodka after 9pm
Low-cost vodka in Russia is considered to be the males’ major health problem in the country.
The tax increase proposal also includes beer and wine, as well as cigarettes, reports The Moscow Times.
