OREANDA-NEWS. November 14, 2011. The President of Belarus has signed an ordinance to raise excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco goods and diesel fuel.

According to Ordinance #489 dated October 25, 2011, Belarus increases excise tax rates on hard drinks by 33.3% to 40,000 Belarusian rubles per liter of absolute alcohol for the two remaining months of 2011.The same rates will be introduced for all strong drinks with alcohol content between 7% and 28%, and over 28%, except for wine, cider, beer and beer cocktails.

The excise rates on original grape wines have grown 42.9% to Br40,000, grow twofold on fortified fruit and grape wines (except sparkling wines) at 32,000 rubles, on fortified premium wines of improved quality at 16,000 rubles (up 110%).

Excise rates on beer with alcohol content between 0.5% and 7% will increase 33% to 1,330 Belarusian rubles per liter, and with alcohol content over 7% will treble to 2,670 rubles per liter in that period, according to the presidential ordinance.

The following excise tax rates on cigarettes (per 1,000 units):

- priced up to 150,000 – 17,000 rubles (+11%);

- between 150,000 rubles and 300,000 rubles – 45,000 rubles (+12.5%);

- over 3000,000 rubles and cigarettes without retail prices – 65,000 rubles (+8.3%);;

- non-filter – 5,000 rubles (11.12%);

The excise tax on diesel fuel (state standard СТБ 1658-2006 (EN 590:2004)) has grown 190% to 676,260 per tonne.