OREANDA-NEWS. February 04, 2010. Sales of alcoholic beverages in Belarus decreased year-on-year in 2009, while sales of beer and cigarettes increased, according to official statistics.

Sales of alcohol and beer in the first seven months reached 4.905 trillion Belarusian rubles (Br), 12% of the total retail turnover.

Sales of hard drinks and beer reached 9.237 million decaliters, down 2.2% year-on-year.

Sales of beer increased 6.3% year-on-year in the first eight months to 26.485 million decaliters.

Sales of cigarettes rose 4.1% to 21.6 billion units.

Alcohol prices increased 13.8% in 2009; prices rose 3% in December 2009 on November 2009 and 14.7% on December 2008.

Cigarette prices increased 14.4% on the year in 2009; in December, prices increased 0.3% over November 2009 and 13.7% from December 2008. End (Br2,864 – USD 1)