Russia Plans to Increase Import Duties on Strong Alcohol from Unfriendly Countries

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Russia plans to increase import duties on hard liquor from unfriendly countries from the current €3 to €5 per liter, according to sources in the alcohol industry, as reported by Kommersant.

According to the source, the relevant decree is expected to be issued in November 2026 and take effect immediately rather than from January 2027. The duty hike will inevitably lead to higher prices for imported alcohol. A 0.7-liter bottle of imported alcohol in the mass segment will increase in price by more than 200 rubles. However, the duty increase will have little impact on the price of premium imports (in segments costing over 3–5 thousand rubles per bottle).

Retail sales of imported beverages in Russia increased by 12% year-on-year from January to September 2026. Experts predict that with the increase in duties, Russian alcohol producers will intensify their efforts to gain market share in retail.

• Import duties on alcohol from unfriendly countries have been in place in Russia since September 2024. The current rate is set at 20% of the customs value of the product, with a minimum of €3 per liter.