OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus decreased the output of all kinds of alcoholic beverages (vodka, hard liquor, fermented beverages - fruit wines, mixed drinks with alcohol content - brandy, cognac, sparkling wine and grape wine) in January-March 2014, an official with Belarus' National Statistics Committee (Belstat) told.

Belarus' vodka and hard liquor output decreased 20.3% on the year in January-March 2014 to 3.078 million decaliters.

The output of grape wine reduced 2.7% year on year in Jan-Mar 2014 to 608,000 dal; sparkling wines - down 14.7% year on year to 307,000 dal; brandy - down 24.7% to 61,000 dal; fermented beverages - down 0.8% to 2.662 million dal.

Inventories of vodka and other liquors stood at 1.879 million decaliters as of April 1, 2014, 183.1% of the average monthly output. Stock reserves of cognac stood at 16,000 decaliters, 78.7% of the average monthly output; sparking wines - 197,000 dal (192.5% of the average monthly output), grape wines - 221,000 dal (109%), fermented drinks - 558,000 dal, 62.9% of the average monthly output.

Belarus' sales of alcohol beverages and beer totalled Br6 trillion (USD 601.202 million) in Jan-Mar 2014, which accounts for 10.9% of the total retail turnover.