It’s A Very Russian Idea

How do we stimulate the economy? Russian financial minister Alexei Kudrin has the answer: drink and smoke. Kudrin has encouraged the country to drink and to smoke in order to fill up the coffers with the excise taxes. A new cigarette tax was introduced by Kudrin in June. Once it’s fully implemented in three years, the state government will double what they make now per 1,000 cigarettes and earn £12.59, or $19.37. Drinking will become more expensive in Russia, too. By 2013, heavier alcohol taxes are expected to increase the price of the cheapest Russian vodka from £1.83 ($2.81) to £3.07 ($4.72).