Siluanov has ruled out significant change in the price of vodka – RBC

Photo: Mikhail Mordasov/RIA Novosti

Vodka in Russia will not be much cheaper or much more expensive, said Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. According to him, the key task is to provide consumers with quality product

the Price of vodka in Russia will not change significantly, said the TV channel “Russia 1″ the Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov.

“We are now working to prevent the alcohol market of counterfeit and substandard products. This is the most important, so vodka will be cheaper, but will not be much expensive… We will provide the consumer a quality product — that is our task, together with the Net” — he said (quoted by TASS).

on 29 September, Deputy economic development Minister Oleg Fomichev said that the Ministry proposes to reduce the excise tax on spirits in 2017 from 500 to 360 rubles. per 1 liter of pure alcohol and the minimum price of half a liter of vodka — from 190 to 136 RUB.

the same day as RT reported on the report of the Ministry of industry and trade for the government Commission, with even more radical proposals for reform of the alcohol market. In particular, the report proposed to reduce the cost of a bottle of vodka even more — up to 100 rubles In the Ministry of industry and trade to comment on this information refused.

the press service of the Ministry of Finance in this regard, RBC has stated that the Ministry “cannot afford in terms of structural deficit of the Federal budget reduced rates of excise duty on alcoholic products”.

“a Bottle of vodka can cost 100 RUB, as only the size of the excise duty and VAT in the cost of one bottle of vodka consists of 118 RUB Thus reducing the cost of vodka is possible only under condition of reduction of excise duty, which will lead to the loss of Federal and regional revenues in proportion of 60 to 40″ — said the press service of the Ministry of Finance, adding that “state policy should be consistent.”

the Source of RBC, close to the office of the Vice Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin, confirmed that at the upcoming meeting of the governmental Commission on regulation of the alcoholic market is expected to reports from the ministries involved in the work of the Commission, with proposals for improving the situation in the alcohol market, in particular to combat illegal sector and increase the collection of excise duties.

the Interlocutor of RBC noted that discussed the idea of creating a “people’s vodka” — cheap legal to drink as an alternative surrogates (e.g., brew) and dual-purpose products” (pseudomedical alcoholic tinctures and “cosmetic lotions” are in high demand in many regions of the country have low-income consumers of alcohol).

the head of the Ministry of health Veronika Skvortsova spoke against reducing the minimum prices for vodka and selling it over the Internet. She explained that in Russia “the main factor which determines the mortality rate of the working population, is the abuse of alcohol in young men”.