Incomes from excises on alcoholic beverages remain 4% below those of 2024, in the first ten months of 2025, despite the 15% increase of excises, according to a Spirits Romania press release. Spirits Romania is an association including producers and importers of alcoholic beverages in Romania. The association mentions that in the first 10 months of 2025, incomes from excises on alcoholic beverages are 4% (44.28 million lei) lower than the ones recorded in the same period of 2024, despite the increase of excises by 14.84%, +4.4%, as of January 1, 2025 and +10% since August 1, 2025. “It is useless to insist on increasing excises for alcoholic beverages in 2026 as we saw no effect in 2025 besides the bankruptcy of local producers and higher sales prices benefitting only the illegal market,” said Florin Radulescu, the president of Spirits Romania. Producers and importers of alcoholic beverages suggest the government to delay additional excise increases by 10% as of January 1, 2026 before analysing the impact of present increases on budget incomes and beverage consumption. Moreover, they forwarded the government a suggestion to modify the way excises for all alcoholic beverages are calculated taking into consideration their content of pure alcohol. According to a Roland Berger study released in October 2025, 30-40% of alcoholic beverage consumption in Romania is not taxed, being connected to illegal production, bootlegging or counterfeit products. This situation creates significant income losses – estimated at 45-65 million euros annually- and exposing consumers to serious health problems. Spirits Romania is a patrons' association gathering the main producers and importers of alcoholic beverages in Romania. Spirits Romania was set up in 2013 to contribute to setting up a functional fiscal and legislative frame, favorable to the development of the local spirits industry, as well as from the wish of member companies to get involved in creating joint consumer education programs about responsible alcohol consumption. Members of Spirits Romania export all types of alcoholic beverages to over 30 countries in Europe, Asia and America. Spirits Romania is affiliated to SpiritsEurope, a reprezentative European organization in the field of alcohol industry, that includes 31 national associations from 24 countries.
The fund Cultura Face Bine, a national funding mechanism for cultural projects backed by private-sector financing, will begin supporting local cultural organizations in 2026. The fund aims to support grassroots cultural initiatives with a proven impact in their communities and which need resources to continue, develop, or transform their activities. The funding mechanism has been […]
The European Commission (EC) announced on Thursday, December 11, that it is referring Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to meet obligations under Ambient Air Quality Directives. According to the Commission, Romania has not ensured that its national air quality monitoring network complies with legally required standards on […]
The Bucharest Court of Appeal (CAB) held an unprecedented press conference on Thursday, December 11, in response to allegations raised in a recent media investigation published by Recorder, with court president Liana Arsenie firmly rejecting the claims. However, at the start of the press event, a judge from within the institution publicly stated that the […]
Romania’s Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) issued its first response to the Recorder documentary alleging systemic manipulation within the justice system, calling the investigation an amplification of a “campaign to destabilize judicial authority.” The council said on Thursday, December 11, that it will evaluate what measures need to be taken following the report. In a […]
MedLife, Romania’s largest private medical services network, announced on Wednesday, December 10, that it reached a market capitalization of EUR 1 billion on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB). The milestone secures its position as “the most valuable healthcare company” in the country. The achievement came nine years after MedLife’s listing on BVB in December 2016, […]
The Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark in Romania has become a “living laboratory” this week as a team of American researchers arrived to study microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme environments. The scientists, part of the interdisciplinary research organisation The Two Frontiers Project, are examining methane seeps, sulfur and petroleum springs, saline sources, and other […]
