Belarus breweries report 30% losses due to beer kiosk sale ban

The Belarusian beer industry has lost up to 30 percent of revenues after the government banned beer sales at kiosks located at public transport stops, Heineken Belarus CEO Aliaksei Charniayeu told a roundtable meeting for industry professionals on February 9 in Minsk. Beer can be sold via various channels, he said. However, the network of restaurants and bars in Belarus is yet to be developed. Retail sales through kiosks were well organized, byt after the ban for beer sales in kiosks was introduced, the Belarusian brewery industry lost up to 30 percent of revenues.

The Belapan news agency quotes Charniayeu as saying that the beer industry might recover the losses soon only after the ban is lifted.