Ukraine: Government doubles excise duty on beer

Despite protests from local industry players, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has approved a bill raising excise rates on beer, hard spirits, wine, and sigarettes, zn.ua reported on December 24.

As from January 1, the tax on beer will be doubled – to UAH2.48 per litre, while rates for hard spirits will be raised by 50%.

Ukrainian brewers are already struggling. In January-November this year, the nation’s beer output declined by 20.2% versus the same period last year. In 2008-2015, Ukraine’s beer industry shrank by almost 40%, experts estimate.

30 December, 2015