Trade: Incomes from excises on alcoholic beverages 4% lower than in 2024, after first 10 months

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.