OREANDA-NEWS. November 13, 2010. Sales of alcoholic beverages in Belarus increased year-on-year in January-September 2010, and sales of cigarettes increased, too, according to official statistics.

Sales of alcohol and beer in January-September 2010 reached 4.446 trillion Belarusian rubles (Br), 12.2% of the total retail turnover.

Sales of hard drinks reached 7.591 million decaliters, up 5.2% year-on-year.

Sales of beer increased 22.4% year-on-year in January-September to 25.947 million decaliters.

Sales of cigarettes rose 10.2% on the year in January-September 2010 to 16.9 billion units.

Alcohol prices increased 10.5% in January-September 2010 on the year; prices rose 11.2% in September 2010 on the year and 0.2% from August 2010.

Cigarette prices increased 5.4% on the year in January-September 2010. Cigarette prices rose 3% on the year in September 2010 and remained flat from August 2010.