OREANDA-NEWS. The 2.8% shrinkage of Belarus beer market last year was caused by an increase in excise duties and raw stuff prices, director general of OJSC Lidskoye Pivo Audrius Mikshis reported.

According to the source, in 2012 beer excise taxed grew threefold and now it is higher than in neighbouring states. To compensate for bigger duties, beer brewers had to raise their prices.

The expert believes that some consumers switched over to stronger alcoholic drinks after beer had become more expensive.

As formerly reported, Belarus’ beer output decreased 6.2% on the year in January-February 2013 to 5.947 million decaliters.

Lidskoye Pivo was founded in 1876. In 1994 the brewery was transformed into a joint-stock company. In 2009 OJSC Lidskoye Pivo merged with Olvi concern.