The value of illegal sales of about 32,000 hectoliters of pure alcohol in the country each year is estimated at $54 million.
Growth in the volume traded on the illicit market has been increasing, with the exception of the period between 2012 and 2013, when it went down by 3.7% due to "... greater government control on ethanol, specifically in control of pharmacy alcohol and counterfeit or adulterated alcohol. "
The new regulation will set the value added tax at 8% and a specific duty of $0.09 per degree of alcohol for beers.
No new regulations are established for the distribution and sale of beer since the law states that this tax only applies to products with 6% abv or more.
The bill sent to Congress will mean stores must have a license in order to sell beer.
El Salvador's current law stipulates the need for an operation license only for the sale of beverages containing more than 6% alcohol by volume meaning that beer is excluded.
The government has sent the Assembly a proposal to reform the liquor duties levied on beers, wines and spirits that were approved in December 2009.
El Salvador's Treasury Minister, Carlos Cáceres, expects this new proposal to correct errors in the current legislation, which he says is not what was intended.
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