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進入《中英對照讀新聞》Russia cuts price of vodka amid double-digit inflation 俄羅斯陷入雙位數通貨膨脹率之際降低伏特加價格
◎管淑平
Russia has dropped the minimum price of vodka by 16 percent in an attempt to ward off a rise in moonshine consumption, spurred on by the falling ruble and contracting economy.
俄羅斯調降伏特加最低售價，降幅達16%，以圖力抗盧布貶值和經濟緊縮帶動私酒飲用量增加。
The minimum price of vodka is now 185 rubles for half a liter, down from 220 rubles.
目前500毫升伏特加最低售價從220盧布調降為185盧布。
The minimum retail price for vodka was first set in 2009 as part of a crackdown on binge drinking. In 2014 the minimum price was raised from 89 rubles to 199 rubles and then to a record high of 220 rubles per bottle.
俄羅斯2009年起制定伏特加最低零售價以打擊酗酒。2014年最低售價從每瓶89盧布漲到199盧布，之後再漲到220盧布歷史高價。
A markup of the minimal price for hard liquor, however, has only increased illegal alcohol’s share in overall consumption.
然而，提高烈酒最低售價只促進私酒在全國飲酒量的佔有率。
According to state statistics service Rosstat, vodka production in Russia fell 22 percent last year. The deepest recession was in December, the peak of the ruble crash, when production plummeted 47 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.
根據國家統計部門「俄羅斯聯邦統計局」資料，去年俄羅斯伏特加產量下跌22%。最大衰退出現在12月，也就是盧布崩盤最嚴重的時候，當時產量比一年前同期大跌47%。
Counterfeit alcohol consumption has grown "as much as 65 percent" in the years since the government policy was introduced, said Vadim Drobiz, the head of the Center for Federal and Regional Alcohol Market Studies, an independent think tank.
該項政府政策實施後，私造酒飲用量成長「多達65%」，獨立智庫聯邦及地區酒品市場研究中心負責人德羅比茲說。
The situation is expected to become even worse as rising inflation steadily eats away at Russians’ salaries, forcing them to cut spending, including on legal spirits.
預期這個情況會變得更嚴重，因為通膨上升正持續侵蝕俄羅斯人的薪水，迫使他們減少開支，包括購買合法烈酒上的花費。
新聞辭典
ward off：動詞片語，抵擋、阻止。例句：We built fires to ward off the cold.（我們生火驅除寒意。）
moonshine：名詞，非法釀製的烈酒（蒸餾酒）；另有名詞「胡言亂語」之意。例句：He is just talking moonshine.（他只是胡言亂語。）
markup：名詞，漲價、漲價額，利潤。例如：a markup of 50 dollars（漲價50元）
