It is not the first time that Russian government wants to be sole alcohol handling organization. It was back in the tsar times and seems to be now due to large volumes of revenues. Russia produced around 75 million decaliters of alcohol in 2004; tax receipts generated for the account of alcohol plants reached 7.5 billion rubles.
      
      
       Russian president was actually on a trip celebrating the 750th anniversary of the city of Kaliningrad, former Koenigsberg when he stressed monopoly would be introduced. The scheme is still vague, but the legal aspects are likely to be cleared soon, with corresponding bills on their way to the State Duma.
      
      
       However, the analysts are uncertain what will get under the state’s control – liquor production or sales. The former looks to be highly improbable, because the powers that be will have to nationalize back all plants auctioned off earlier. They account for about a half of all distilled products on the market. Besides, the country already has the monopoly, which is Rosspirtprom.
      
      
       The second option – controlling the turnover – might be more feasible, the experts believe.