Latvia: Government plans to raise taxes on fuel, vices

The Latvian government plans to raise taxes on fuel, harmful beverages, tobacco, and gambling, LETA reports. Under the plan, the excise tax on fuel will amount to EUR 10 per tonne of CO2 in 2025 and to EUR 20 per tonne in 2026. The excise duty on sugary non-alcoholic beverages will rise from the current EUR 7.4 to EUR 11 per 100 litres in 2025. Also, the government plans to harmonise the excise duties on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products with the other Baltic States. The price of a 0.5-litre bottle of liquor would rise by EUR 0.15, of a 0.75-litre bottle of wine by EUR 0.06, and of a 0.5-litre bottle of beer by EUR 0.02 in 2027. The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes would rise by EUR 0.46 in 2027. Finally, the government plans to increase the annual gambling licence fee as well as lottery and gambling taxes in 2027.