Russia is creating a federal alcohol control service to stabilize the market and bring order to the industry. It will set rules, minimum prices, and vodka retail price no lower than 80 rubles.
On Wednesday, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov told journalists about the creation of a federal service for controlling the circulation of alcohol.The purpose of its creation is to stabilize the alcohol market and restore order in this sphere.
The work on forming the regulatory and legal framework in this area will be transferred to the service’s jurisdiction.
The new service will set minimum wholesale and retail prices for alcohol. Thus, according to the deputy prime minister, a bottle of vodka in retail trade should not cost less than 80 rubles. Otherwise, it is an illegal product of dubious origin on which excise duty has not been paid.
The government is also considering the issue of creating a unified state register of ethyl alcohol production capacities, introducing licensing for its transportation, and standardizing alcoholic products.