Chrysostomos Tsoufis

Alarm bells are being sounded by the Greek alcoholic beverage companies which, despite the fact that they have significantly strengthened their export character, believe that they do not have the help they need from the State in order to compete on equal terms abroad.

After a decade of strong growth with exports increasing by 18.1% (7.4 million bottles), the situation for Greek exports seems to have stalled.

In 2023 there was a decrease in the quantity exported by 4.8% (although there was an increase in value due to the significant revaluations that also affected this sector) while the figures for the first half of this year are not encouraging as they show a further decrease of 2.6 %.

  • Unfortunately, the Association of Greek Distilled Spirits Producers is asking for a package of measures before the situation becomes irreversible:
  • Updating the Legislation and reducing bureaucracy and administrative controls
  • Establishment of a National Spirits Council
  • Promotion Program of Greek spirits
  • Treating the industry’s products as part of the tourism product
  • Regulating the production and handling of bulk products of two-day distillates
  • Gradual adjustment over a 3-year period of the VAT on alcoholic beverages to the level of the European average

After the successive increases imposed in the years of the memorandum, the VAT on alcoholic beverages in Greece has reached €2,550/100 liters of ethyl alcohol when the European average is €1,890, almost 35% higher. SEAOAP requests its reduction until 2028 to €1800.

After successive increases, the VAT now constitutes 1/3 of the price of alcoholic beverages in Greece. And if VAT is added, then taxes make up 55% of the final price.
It is therefore not surprising that 2023 ended with Greece in third place in Europe among the countries with the most expensive alcoholic beverages behind Finland and Ireland. SEAOAP notes that high prices create more favorable conditions for the flourishing of illegal trade.

  • The figures show that 8/10 liters exported from Greece end up in some European country.
  • 37% is absorbed by Germany
  • 12.4% ends up in the Netherlands, which is a surprise
  • 11.4% of Iraq in third place
  • The Netherlands, France and Austria complete the six

The king of exports is of course Ouzo with 73% of the exported quantity. Germans, Bulgarians and Iraqis prefer it.

4% belong to liqueurs while 22% are collected by exports of other drinks such as Brandy, Gin and Vodka

Tsipouro and Tsikoudia have just 1% with Germans, Albanians and Americans preferring it.