The Ministry of Finance positively assessed the request to set a minimum price for cider at 100 rubles.

The National Association of Traditional Cider Manufacturers and producers of other alcoholic beverages made from berries and fruits have proposed setting a minimum retail price for their products. In their opinion, drinks should cost at least 100 rubles. per litre. Ministry of Finance reported Vedomostiwhich considers such a measure effective in the fight against illegal products and “the right initiative that needs to be worked out”, but the brewing companies criticized the proposal.

The association and the producers sent a letter with a proposal to President Vladimir Putin. The document was signed by representatives of 40 companies, including Brumen, Kraftye, Yablochny Spas. The association confirmed to Vedomosti that the letter had been sent.

Elena Tyukina, production director of Krasny Pivovar, explained that the introduction of a minimum price of 150 rubles. per liter would make it unprofitable to sell counterfeit cheap products. Aleksey Nebolsin, the founder of the Yablochny Spas cider factory, noted that the minimum cost would create a barrier from unscrupulous producers.

Major cider producers opposed the introduction of a minimum price. Thus, the president of AB InBev Efes, Oraz Durdiyev, considers the measure unreasonable and excessive. In his opinion, the initiative may lead to an increase in cider prices by 5-10%, which will lead to the transition of buyers to cheap strong surrogate alcohol. A representative of the Association of Producers of Beer, Malt and Beverages agrees with the opinion of Mr. Durdyev (it unites the largest producers of beer and cider – AB InBev Efes, Baltika, Heineken United Brewery). He called the proposal detrimental to market competition.

The discussion about tightening control over the production of cider was a reaction to the massive poisoning of the surrogate drink “Mr. Cider” in Russia. 106 people got poisoned, 36 died. In the manufacture of surrogate cider used methyl alcohol stolen from a police warehouse.

Read more about the reaction of business and authorities – in the material “Kommersant” “Beer is self-illuminating”.

Leonid Uvarchev