The General Department of Taxation has asked alcohol and cigarette firms to implement proposed increases in special tax on their products, as per a subdecree issued last December.

The special tax on beer will now increase to 30 per cent, 35 per cent for liquors and 20 per cent on cigarettes, with the increased tax coming into effect on April 1.

The subdecree on special tax followed two separate reviews of the special tax on July 2014, followed by another one in January 2015.