Vodka sales reach six liters a year for every Pole

In this time, the value of the market increased from about zl.6.7 billion to almost zl.7 billion. Producers remember the slump of over 6% following the increase in excise duty in 2005 though. According to Waldemar Wasiluk, deputy president of Polmos Lublin, a permanent change in the negative trend will only happen if last year's growth is maintained for 2-3 years. This will be a difficult task, especially as beer and wine are continuously increasing their sales. Further to this, vodka makers are also dependent on changes to excise duty regulations, which are not yet planned but could take place. "If current regulations are not exacerbated and black market sales do not increase, alcohol producers will continue to develop," said William Carrey, president of CEDC, owner of Polmos Bialystok and Bols Polska. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) M.M.