Putin Calls for Vodka Monopoly
Central planning comes to the Russian alcohol industry:
Putin Plans Russia Vodka Monopoly (BBC)
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has called for a return to a state monopoly on vodka production, to cut the many thousands of alcohol-related deaths.
Since the Soviet Union’s collapse, hundreds of little-known brands of vodka – Russia’s favourite tipple – appeared to meet a $9bn a year market.
But analysts believe a quarter of that total is illegal low-quality vodka.
Mr Putin said poor quality alcohol was contributing to the deaths of some 40,000 Russians each year.
On the bright side, at least he didn’t advocate prohibition.
More likely it’s all about the taxes collected on the alcohol.
Best argument against prohibition there is: dead drunks don’t pay taxes.
Same argument goes for cigarettes.