Belarus president in favor of tougher punishments for illegal alcohol trade

MINSK (BelTA) – It is necessary to introduce tougher punishments for illegal alcohol trade. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave the relevant instructions during the government conference held on 21 March to discuss ways to improve alcohol trade regulation, BelTA has learned.

A draft presidential decree on how natural persons can handle alcohol products was discussed during the government conference. According to Belarusian Tax and Duties Minister Sergei Nalivaiko, Belarusians will be able to transport and store Belarus-made alcohol products, which are marked with excise stamps, without restrictions. No restrictions will be applied to transporting and storing imported alcohol products, which are marked with Belarusian excise stamps in accordance with the established procedure.

Alexander Lukashenko gave instructions to introduce tougher punishments for storing and transporting unmarked alcohol products in Belarus. He approved the draft presidential decree on the whole and gave instructions to polish the document by introducing tougher punishments for illegal alcohol trade.