Russia to raise vodka prices to fight excessive drinking

According to a draft decree published by the government on Friday, Russia looked set to once again raise minimum vodka prices as of next year, with consumers having to spend about a fifth more for the same quantity from January 2014.

The document said the cheapest half-liter bottle of vodka would then cost 199 rubles ($6, 4.42 euros), up from the current 170 rubles.

It also noted the price for strong spirits would further rise to 220 rubles per half liter from August 2014, bringing total increases next year to almost 30 percent.

Home-made alcohol a problem

Alcoholism was estimated to contribute to 30 percent of deaths in the nation of 143 million inhabitants, medical surveys indicated.

The Kremlin had already been tightening regulations for producers of vodka and beer such as Russia's Synergy or Danish brewer Carlsberg. It had banned alcohol advertizing, raised excise taxes and banned sales after 11 p.m.

An earlier round of price hikes in 2010 has already affected store sales, but even higher prices could easily lead Rus