Russians Drank 10M Litres of Counterfeit Whiskey in 2013

Russian retailers sold 9.9 million litres of whiskey more than the country imported in 2013, according to official statistics that indicate a lucrative market in counterfeit alcohol. The State Statistics Service figures were reported Friday by RBC business news website. The counterfeit whiskey market may be worth at least 8 billion rubles ($230 million), given Russian alcohol prices, the website said. In 2012, retail sales of whiskey exceeded imports by 7.8 million litres. In 2010, the first year in which data on the discrepancy in the amount between retailed and imported whiskey began to be collated, the excess of the spirit sold amounted to 16.8 million litres.

http://en.ria.ru/business/20140208/187332759/Russians-Drank-10M-Liters-of-Counterfeit-Whiskey-in-2013.html