Excise duties on alcoholic beverages up by 10 per cent
The Government is dedicated to mitigating the adverse effects of alcohol. The price of alcohol has proven to be an effective way statistically of reducing overall consumption of alcohol. The price of all alcoholic beverages will be raised by 10% at the beginning of 2009. This will increase central government tax revenue by an estimated EUR 65 million a year.
The increase means that retail prices for alcoholic beverages will go up by an average of 4½% on average. The price of spirits will increase about twice as much as beer and wine prices. This change in taxation means that the price of a bottle of beer will go up by an average of 4 cents, a bottle of wine by 22 cents on average and a bottle of Koskenkorva vodka by 75 cents. This legislative amendment will be brought into force as soon as possible.
Inquiries: Ms Jenni Oksanen, Financial Adviser, tel 358 9 160 32501