12 August 2009 By Alex Anishyuk / Special to The Moscow Times
A government initiative to triple the excise tax on beer would be disastrous for the brewing industry, resulting in job losses and crippling smaller producers, members of the Beer Producers Union said at a news conference Tuesday.
“The plan being considered by the government will cause production to drop by 40 to 50 percent, and thousands of people will lose their jobs,” said Daniil Briman, vice president of Baltika, the country’s largest brewer. “I don’t think anyone in the government seriously considered the social consequences of this initiative.” . . . . .
____________________________________________________________________