Alcohol, Baltic States – CIS, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

"We approve of this fact, and we hope that, therefore, alcohol smuggling from Russia will not be that profitable anymore, and this is likely to have a positive effect on the legal alcohol sector in Latvia," said liquor import and distribution company Liviko Director Urmas Silmans.

However, a large proportion of alcoholic beverages retailed in Latvia come from Belarus, where liquor remains quite inexpensive, writes LETA.

Latvian Merchants' Association President Henriks Danusevics said that Russia's decision could result in less alcohol being smuggled into Latvia.

"However, the price different still remains quite large, therefore it cannot be said that this decision will curb smuggling significantly," he said.

Danusevics also reminds that the flow of bootleg cigarettes into Latvia remains a problem.