In Azerbaijan at the legislative level, the Government plans to introduce the sale of excisable alcohol and cigarettes solely on credit cards. The violators of the innovation can be punished with fines and imprisonment.
The bill on amendments to the Code of Administrative and Criminal Offenses is already in the Parliament and its adoption can take place before the end of the year.
The initiative was first announced in Parliament in 2013. Then the innovation would be applied to restrict access of minors to alcohol and cigarettes. Today the objectives of the initiative are expanded. The Azerbaijan population spends more than 50% of its income on food, as well as alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco are the most profitable business, but to a large extent this business is in shadows. The sale of these goods through POS terminals will allow the state to take control and legalize the sale, and thus significantly increase the revenues from excise taxes and profit of trade outlets. -0-
Economics
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