According to the Russian legislation, wine beverages should consist of wine at least 50%, the rest can fall in the water. Maximum fortress wine beverages not exceeding 22%. Currently, the excise tax on wine beverages is 18 rubles per liter, and for still wines. Excise duty for sparkling wines two times higher at 36 rubles per liter. The only exception is drinks with a protected geographical indication and protected appellation of origin for which the excise rate is much lower: 5 rubles for a quiet, 14 roubles for sparkling wines.

The Ministry of agriculture noted that the wine beverages are the goods-substitutes. The excise tax increase will lead to higher prices, and the share of such products in the market will decline. The proportion of wine, in turn, will grow. "We should not create conditions for the production and sales of products of inferior quality", — said the head of Department food and processing industry Ministry of agriculture Evgeny Akhpashev.

Photo: hainaut-terredegouts.be