Uzbekistan to raise minimum prices for alcohol
By Nazrin Gadimova
Uzbekistan will increase the minimum wholesale and retail prices of alcoholic beverages (except beer) from January 1, 2014, a joint decree of Uzbekistan's Finance Ministry and the State Tax Committee reads.
The decree reads the minimum wholesale price of cognac products will increase by 50 percent up to 9,400 soums per liter for manufacturers compared to the current 6,250 soums per liter. The retail price for this type of alcoholic beverages, in turn, will be increased from 7,600 to 11,400 soums per liter.
Moreover, the minimum wholesale price for vodka will be increased by 25 percent up to 7,800 soums per liter compared to the current 6,250 soums per liter, while the minimum wholesale price of wine will be increased by 20 percent- from 2,750 to 3,300 soums, and the retail price from 3,350 to 4,000 soums per liter.
The minimum prices for alcohol beverages (except beer) were introduced in Uzbekistan on January 1, 2010.
The document reads the minimum prices for alcohol products are set to prevent the illegal production and sale of alcoholic beverages. Manufacturers and retailers of alcoholic beverages selling at prices below the established amount are punished by penalties, and the perpetrators are prosecuted.
The last time the minimum prices of alcohol beverages in Uzbekistan were increased was on January 1, 2013. At that time the prices for all types of alcohol products, except beer, were raised by 25 percent.
Production of alcohol and distillery products in Uzbekistan, according to official statistics, increased by 6 percent and amounted to over 9.5 million dal, cognac - by 8.7 percent (81.100 dal), champagne - by 0.4 percent (57.800 dal), beer - by 3 percent (17.1 million dal) in January- September 2013.
Wine production in Uzbekistan decreased by 2 percent and amounted to 1,652 dal in the same period.
The official exchange rate for December 16 is 2.201 soums/USD.