Ukraine: Minimum Alcohol Price Increases Proposed
The Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine has proposed to increase minimum wholesale and retail prices of alcohol. Ukraine ranks among the ten countries with the highest alcohol consumption in the world.
The new draft resolution to increase in minimum alcohol prices was discussed and adopted for introduction in the parliament, at a meeting headed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv. It is expected that the resolution will enter into force 10 days after its publication.
Concretely, the minimum price of vodka and liquors will be increased by 12.4-19.6%. For whiskey, rum and gin the minimum price will be increased by 12%. For cognac the minimum price will be increased by 6.6-9.5% and for wine the minimum price will be increased by 4.5-13.5%.
A vast and growing body of scientific evidence shows that the most cost-effective measures to prevent and reduce alcohol harm remain price interventions especially through taxation.