OREANDA-NEWS. February 21, 2011. The Moldovan government will increase the excise tax only on strong alcoholic beverages starting from April 1. It was said to journalists by the Finance Minister Veaceslav Negruta.

He said this increase would not concern wine. The Finance Minister emphasized that according to the expectations, the increase in excise taxes for strong alcoholic beverages will entail the rise in their price in the retail by about 7-10 leis for a bottle depending on a producer.

According t oVeaceslav Negruta, this growth of excise taxes may draw additional 50-70 million leis to the budget. He said a lot would depend on whether consumers will keep their preferences to drink strong beverages after they rise in price.

The Minister said that if consumption of strong alcoholic beverages does go down, the growth of excise taxes would allow replenishing the budget by just about 50 million leis. Veaceslav Negruta said the decision to increase excise taxes for cigarettes and strong alcoholic beverages is meant to ensure stability of public finance and cut the budget deficit.