Imported Russian vodka ‘to disappear from UK shelves’ under strict new tariffs

If you’re a fan of drinking vodka, you may have to change your brand of choice if you haven’t already.

As of today imported Russian vodka is expected to vanish from UK shop shelves as it becomes subject to much higher import tariffs – including Russian Standard, Beluga, Mamont and Hammer + Sickle.

And if you have expensive taste, other luxury goods imported from the country will also become more pricey, such as diamonds and caviar.

The Government announced this morning Russian vodka will be affected by the tariff increases of 35 percentage points on the current rates.

And from next week exports of luxury goods to Russia will be banned, which is likely to affect supercars, high-end fashion and works of art.

The move is part of plans between EU and G7 nations to impose further crippling sanctions on Vladimir Putin and his supporters following the invasion of Ukraine.

Several national supermarkets had already pulled Russian vodka from their shelves in a mark of solidarity with Ukraine.

The World Trade Organisation will also remove Russia from its most favoured list of global partners, meaning import taxes will be raised and Moscow’s export market will be subject to extra tariffs and paperwork.

And as of today, new laws have come into force under the economic crime bill to allow sanctions to be imposed on hundreds more Russian oligarchs and businesses.

The new bill was fast-tracked through Parliament and now allows Britain to mirror snactions already imposed by the EU and US.

A ‘significant’ sanctions package is expected to be announced by foreign secretary Liz Truss as early as today.

Prime minister Boris Johnson said the new laws would make it easier for the Government to act ‘harder and faster’ in response to Russia.

More Russian oligarchs were issued with heavy sanctions in the past few days, including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

The Government announced the 55-year-old’s assets in the UK had been frozen last week.

In its statement announcing his sanction, the Government described Chelsea’s owner as a ‘pro-Kremlin oligarch’ and claimed he ‘has had a close relationship for decades’ with Mr Putin.

Mr Putin previously said of the sanctions: ‘These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war.’

He was spotted waiting in a VIP lounge at Ben Gurion airport in Israel yesterday afternoon – the first time he has been seen since his sanction was announced.

And eight people have now been arrested after protesting at a London mansion linked to oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a businessman with ties to Mr Putin.

Activists broke into a £25 million Belgravia house, declared it ‘belongs to Ukrainian refugees’ and hung banners from the balcony. It took a whole day to remove them from the property.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has subtly taken aim at the Met Police for the amount of resources dedicated to protecting the property of a billionaire.

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