Russia plans doubling minimum vodka price

MOSCOW MILLS — A Russian official says the government is considering more than doubling the minimum price of vodka in three years.

Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Shatalov is quoted by Russian news wires as saying Wednesday that the ministry proposes gradually raising sales taxes on vodka to achieve the goal.

Shatalov says the measure would raise the minimum price for a half-a-liter (0.13-gallon) bottle of vodka from the current 89 rubles ($2.80) to 200 rubles ($6.30) in 2013.

He says vodka must not be cheap, and that the move is meant to help fill the government coffers as well as to combat alcohol abuse.

Shatalov says his ministry also has proposed raising cigarette prices by 30 percent each year for the next three years.