Wine in Ukraine is more expensive than vodka: experts explained the cause and gave a forecast

Empty wine glasses photos: informant

Expert of the Center for Economic Strategy Eleazar Levchenko notes that in the fall of 2024, for the first time in the last six years, it took place Increasing minimum retail prices (MRC). For wine products, they increased by 50%. At the same time, the cost of vodka, liqueurs, rum and gin remained unchanged. In his opinion, this has led to a relative rise in price of budget wines compared to strong drinks. The Ukrainian alcohol market in 2025 is undergoing a period of transformations: the state corrects price norms, manufacturers face economic and weather difficulties, and shops are filled with accessible imports.

Minimum Alcohol Prices: Impact on Budget Segment According to the State Statistics Service, in the first seven months of 2025 the cost of wines increased by 6%, while vodka went up by only 3%. In 2024 there was a similar dynamics: wines became more expensive by 4.5%, and prices for vodka fell by 1.5%.

“The main purpose of setting minimal prices for alcohol is to minimize the social consequences of its use. This measure is mainly aimed at active consumers and buyers of cheap drinks. It affects producers of poor quality alcohol, forcing them to raise prices and lose some of the customers. In addition, it creates barriers to companies that reduce cost due to violation of standards, ”says Eleazar Levchenko.

Winery: Climate and Competition The President of the All -Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Somelier Natalia well expresses restrained expectations for the development of the industry.

“Numerous factors influence prices: labor shortages, exchange rates, logistics problems. In addition, competition between Ukrainian and European wines is complicated. Many customers who are not aware of local products prefer more expensive imports, mistakenly considering it better. However, this is not always true, ”he shares the opinion prosperous.

Additional factors are the prospects for 2025 and the cost of growing and processing grapes. The expert emphasizes that even the cost of purchasing raw materials for manufacturers without their own plantations directly affects the final price of the product.

Currently, the collection of early varieties has begun in the Odessa region: “White varieties of the foam group show good indicators for sparkling wines. The bulk of the collection is expected in September. We hope that the rains will not worsen the condition of the crop, ”adds prosperous.

Import offensive: Consumer needs According to the KIIS survey conducted with WHO support, 21.5% of Ukrainians reduced alcohol consumption after a full -scale war, and 6.8% completely abandoned it. Only 5.5% of respondents increased their use, and 2.9% resumed after pauses. This indicates a general decline in demand. However, due to inflation, the cost of alcoholic beverages continues to increase. Data of the State Statistics Service for 2025:

• Beer – +11.3% (up to 35.5 UAH per 0.5 l)
• Wine – +7.8% (up to UAH 118.6 per 0.7 l)
• Vodka – +2.2% (up to 118.4 UAH per 0.5 l)

According to Eleazar Levchenko, by 2024 the last adjustment of minimum prices took place in 2018.

“Due to considerable inflation of consumer prices, it is advisable to periodically update the” price floor “for alcohol. A similar approach is used in the world to improve the health of the population. Studies show that such policy helps to reduce hospitalizations due to acute poisoning by 2-9%, and due to chronic alcoholism-by 4-9% annually after 2-3 years of adaptation, ”the specialist sums up.

In 2025, the alcoholic market was influenced by two factors: significant state regulations that increase the cost of budget drinks and international competition with climatic risks that affect the cost of production. Further prices are forecast, and the main task of Ukrainian winemakers is to confront cheap imports.

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