The Ministry of Finance wants to raise the minimum retail price for strong alcohol by 7.5%

It is “expedient to increase the minimum retail price (MRP) for alcoholic products with a strength above 28 degrees by 7.5%” from January 1, 2024. This is stated in a letter from Deputy Minister of Finance Alexei Sazanov to the head of the Ministry of Finance Anton Siluanov. Vedomosti has reviewed a copy of this document. The Ministry of Finance did not respond to the request, but a source close to the government confirmed that the issue of increasing the MRP for such drinks is indeed currently being considered.

In his letter, Sazanov explains the need to introduce such a measure by the updated forecast of the Ministry of Economic Development, according to which by the end of 2023 the inflation rate will be exactly 7.5%. In this case, the price will correspond to real market conditions. For this reason, he asks Siluanov to agree to amend the order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated October 7, 2020 No. 235n “On setting prices not lower than which purchases (except for imports), deliveries (except for exports) and retail sales of alcoholic beverages with a strength of over 28 percent.”