Belarus President Reaffirms State Monopoly on Alcohol and Tobacco Industries

Dec.03.2024
Belarus President Reaffirms State Monopoly on Alcohol and Tobacco Industries
The President of Belarus stated that despite some dissatisfaction from other countries, the nation will maintain its state monopoly on the alcohol and tobacco industries. This decision is aimed at protecting public health and securing the national budget.

According to the Belarusian News Agency BelTA, on December 2, President Aleksandr Lukashenko made a personnel decision and reiterated that Belarus will maintain a state monopoly on the alcohol and tobacco industries.

 

The president stated, "We have a monopoly on the production and sales of alcoholic beverages. We will stick to this course,” the head of state emphasized. “Although many friendly countries have expressed dissatisfaction  of that."

 

"It is necessary to keep all alcohol under control. Tobacco products, alcohol account for a big part of the budget and this sector closely related to people's health,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “There should be no alcohol of poor quality on the market. I do not remember that state-owned enterprises have ever produced something of poor quality. If we have a compete mess on the market, we will have self-distilled vodka or other alcohol of poor quality produced in garages and sold on the market for cheap."

 

"Therefore, the state control will remain over alcohol and tobacco in the country."

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