The minimum wholesale and retail prices on alcoholic beverages (except for beer) in Uzbekistan will be raised starting from January 1, 2017, according to a joint decision of the country’s Ministry of Finance and the State Tax Committee.
The minimum wholesale wine price for producers will be increased from 4,500 to 5,400 Uzbek soums (UZS) per liter (up by 20%), the minimum retail price will grow from 5,400 to 6,500 soums (20.3%).
The minimum wholesale price for vodka and other alcohol products will be increased by 22.9%, to 12,900 soums from the current 10,500 soums, the retail price will grow by 23%, to 15,500 soums from 12,600 soums per liter.
The minimum wholesale price for cognac will be 17,200 soums per liter instead of 13,900 soums (up by 23.7%), while the minimum retail price will rise by 23.3%, to 20,600 soums from 16,700 soums.
The minimum prices for alcohol products will be established in order to prevent illegal production and sale of alcoholic beverages.
If the facts of sale of alcoholic beverages at prices below the minimum are revealed, a fine will be applied to the manufacturer of alcoholic beverages in the amount of 20% of the cost of the products sold.
If the same violation happens again within one year, the penalty will amount to 50% of the cost of the products sold. (Trend/Business World Magazine)