Via Pravda, an amazing observation to make for a politician :

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin considers a sharp increase in excise taxes on alcohol unacceptable. The measure would not reduce alcoholism and [would] trigger the growth of black market substitutes, as well as growth of moonshine production, says the prime minister. Earlier the idea of the revision of excise rates on alcohol and tobacco was proposed by the Ministry of Finance.

Just a shame our own lot don’t realise these things. Increasing the tax on cigarettes to levels resulting in a pack costing £7 only increases the amounts people bring back with them when holidaying abroad. At current UK prices it is not difficult to save the entire airfare and more just by using your full luggage allowance.

At least the EU is good for something, even if it’s only allowing people to stock up elsewhere.