Excise stamp on alcohol: what is it, how to check, types, explanation

To sell alcoholic beverages, you need an alcohol excise stamp; we will talk about checking it in this article and provide photo examples. This is important because every year thousands of people die in the country from adulterated alcohol products. The state is engaged in monitoring turnover and maintaining high-quality records of balances in organizations. For counterfeiting you can be subject to serious penalties.

Excise stamp on alcohol - what is it: explanation

This is an indirect tax on products, which is paid at the expense of the buyer. It is included in the price that the client will pay. The fee applies to tobacco products and alcohol. Due to the introduction of tax burden, not only the purchase price increases, but also its quality - enterprises producing similar products are constantly checked.

With the help of such an instrument, the state tries to control production and consumption. Regulators say higher costs will reduce sales. Real facts indicate an increase in the number of low-quality surrogates and the death of citizens from purchase and use.

Another disadvantage is that the volume of smuggling is increasing; more foreign, often low-quality, unregistered and untested drinks are imported into the Russian Federation. The price for such alcohol is lower.

At the moment, the country's income from alcohol turnover is at one of the highest levels. Ethyl alcohol is the leading tax source of profit.

Examination

The authenticity of the excise stamp can be carried out both in daylight and in artificial lighting. It’s worth considering how to check yourself

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the presence of the manufacturer’s details. The second is the color scheme of the excise tax

Each type of alcohol has its own color, so you need to clearly know what color scheme the excise stamp should have.

In the country there are certain rules for applying paint to paper, namely:

• Alcohol that contains more than 25% alcohol must have a pink-orange color on it.
• Alcohol content between 9% and 25% (wine not included) is franked in grey-red colour.
• Wine products are franked in green-yellow color.
• Sparkling wine and champagne frank the yellow-blue brand.
• Wine containing from 15% to 22% is franked in lilac-green color.

These are the colors you need to look for on domestically produced alcoholic beverages, since alcoholic beverages from foreign producers are marked with a slightly different color scheme, but the tones are still a little similar and you can’t go wrong if you use those listed above as a guide.

Paper for tax stamps is produced in specially designed factories and is completely free of luminescence.

The test is carried out with special devices, such as:

• Ultramag A36;
• Ultramag C6BM.

Such paper has chemical protection, which is detected using certain indicators. The indicators are produced by a state research institute. Using devices, you can illuminate special zones on the stamp, which will determine whether the alcohol is original or counterfeit. The paper also contains a special thread that glows when tested under ultraviolet light.

If we summarize all the protective applications, then the excise stamp looks like this:

• A protective fiber called "Zone".
• Colorless signature “Russia”.
• Security thread with abbreviation.
• Images on the top of the stamp.
• Colorless inscription “Alcohol products”, which is located on the back of the stamp.

There is also a special foil on the paper that replicates holographic images. It must necessarily have a demetalized ornamental pattern.

All this can be controlled visually, since on the hologram you can see the effects of movement and changes in the image itself. The ornamental pattern, which is made from demetalized material, always retains the main film around the edges. In a fake, these edges of the stamp will be damaged or the material will peel off. This can be detected with a device such as Ultramag A36. In the forensic field, a special 10x magnifying glass with backlight is used.

If you doubt the authenticity of the excise stamp, then you should not buy the product. Since recently there have been a lot of cases of poisoning, specifically from alcoholic beverages. You should not risk your health and life in order to buy cheaper. Always check for the presence of a tax stamp and the corresponding signs on it. Be careful, because there are a lot of underground organizations in the country that skillfully counterfeit not only alcohol, but also excise stamps.

Choose your products wisely and stay healthy.

Why is it needed?

Most buyers are not interested in what symbols to look for on the bottle they are buying. In fact, they are not glued to everything that is stronger than 4%. They are not prescribed for beer, poire, mead, or cider. The federal law that defines the procedure for applying the excise tax was adopted in 1995.

This sticker confirms the authenticity of the product and the legality of its sale. This way you can determine whether the wine, cognac is real or fake.

How to check the authenticity of the excise tax?

If, when choosing a bottle of brandy or cognac, you do not want to run into a fake, then it is better to pay attention to the excise stamp. Some simple rules will help you determine the authenticity of a product:

1. Evaluate the print quality and look at the stamp from different angles. The background color should change its intensity. Fake stamps will have an even tone.
2. The stamp should fit tightly to the bottle and not show any signs of damage. Products with damaged excise taxes are normally not put on store shelves.

Only professionals with special equipment can reliably determine the authenticity of a tax sign. However, there is a completely legal and alternative way to make sure that the excise tax is genuine - just ask the seller to show you a copy of the certificate of conformity. This document is issued for each product and contains information about the supplier, manufacturer and importer. By checking this information with the data on the excise tax, you will be able to draw the correct conclusion.

Excise stamps are consumer protection, so do not underestimate their importance, considering them just another way to replenish the treasury. Of course, the cost of excise duty also affects the price of alcohol, however, knowing where to buy your favorite alcohol, you can always save money without compromising the quality of the product. The WineStreet store is pleased to offer competitive prices and consistently high quality products.

Your successful purchase is just one click away!

The difference between the excise stamp and the federal special stamp

Both types of markings are carriers of information and also confirm the registration of the batch in the Unified State Automated Information System. The difference is that the federal tax is applied to everything that is produced in Russia, and the excise tax is applied to everything that is imported from abroad. The presence of this sign verifies the fact that taxes have been paid and the products have been legally sold.

What are they?

Once you have an understanding of where this or that mark is placed, you can decide on the requirements for them. Only a registered manufacturer or importer can obtain the mark. To complete the documents, manufacturers need to contact Rosalkogolregulirovanie, and the supplying company goes to the Federal Customs Service to pick up the papers.

The documentation must contain:

• Product Name;
• volume of one unit;
• type, alcohol concentration;
• manufacturer's name, legal address and place of production;
• if the consignment was imported from abroad, then the details of the importer are indicated;
• the state in which the product is manufactured;
• mandatory confirmation of compliance with quality requirements.

What does an alcohol excise stamp look like: why do you need a series and number?

This is a graphic design printed on thick rectangular self-adhesive paper. To protect against counterfeiting, special elements are used - translucent threads, signs, color changes in the sun.

These symbols are constantly being refined and changed, supplemented with new means. They can only be obtained in Moscow or Perm at Gosznak.

The old stickers were light blue, the new ones are light green. If the excise tax is genuine, then the inscription “РВ” will alternate on the holographic part of the foil with a double-headed eagle.

The name on the label and the displacement must completely coincide with what is indicated on the stamp. If you look at it at an angle, you will notice streaks of pink and gray appearing.

Why do you need a tax stamp?

Excise stamps on alcohol perform several functions:

• confirm the fact that this batch of alcoholic beverages is registered in the EGAIS system, which allows for strict control over the turnover of each unit of alcohol;
• verifies the payment of all taxes and the legality of the sale of a specific drink on the territory of the Russian Federation;
• confirms the quality of products and their compliance with all current standards;
• contain all the basic information about the product and manufacturer.

The amount of excise tax directly depends on the amount of ethyl alcohol per liter of alcoholic beverage.

Kinds

Labeling varies depending on the strength of the alcoholic beverages and their varieties. In general format it looks like this:

• Strong - from 9% to 25%. These are alcoholic beverages, with the exception of grape, fruit, sparkling, and liqueur wines. Yellow sticker.
• Varieties with an alcohol content above 25%, usually cognac. Additionally, information about the volume is provided - from 0.5 l to 1 l. Drawing in green tones.

Certain types of alcohol are labeled separately. Types of excise stamp codes for alcohol (wine products):

• Sparkling. Weak - up to 15%. Separate size markings - up to 0.375 l, up to 0.75 l, up to 1.5 l. Drawing in raspberry shades.
• Grape. The ethyl alcohol content varies from 4.5% to 16.5%. This category does not include fruity or sparkling liquids. Displacement is the same as the previous point. The mark has a purple background.
• Liquor. Degree - from 15% to 22%. The volume is the same as that of other wine varieties. Brown-blue sticker.
• Fruity. Weak - from 6% to 15%. Same nominal volumes. Drawing in red and green color.
• Wine drinks. Strength - from 1.5% to 22%. Sign in blue and yellow colors.

New and old brands

The sticker is:

• old light blue sample, 20 mm;
• new light green format, 18 mm;
• light purple from importing companies 20 or 18 mm.

Federal excise stamp

Domestic and imported alcohol-containing products are labeled differently. For alcohol imported from abroad, a tax stamp is issued. Alcohol produced in Russia is affixed with a federal stamp. The numbers and inscriptions on the excise stamp contain basic information about the product and the manufacturer.

Decoding the excise stamp gives the following information:

• code of the region where the product was manufactured;
• manufacturer's name;
• Name of product;
• ethyl alcohol content in%;
• container volume;
• brand number in the application and application number in the EGAIS system (two rows of numbers located across)
• batch serial number (indicated by the numbers printed under the name and strength).

The information on the excise stamp must match the information indicated on the label.

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Basic moments

Every year, a huge number of smuggled alcohol products are discovered in Russia, the use of which can cause irreparable harm to health.
Before studying the main issue, it is initially recommended to familiarize yourself with basic theoretical information and regulations.

What it is

By and large, there is no need to decipher the excise tax, since all the necessary key data on the stamp is indicated in Russian.

For example, the following information may be indicated on an alcohol excise stamp:

• “Alcohol products from 10 to 40%”;
• “Alcohol products from 20%”;
• “Wine” or “Sparkling wine (popularly referred to as Champagne)”; and so on.

Types of brands are divided depending on the strength of the drink. “Excise stamp” means fiscal documentation that provides the opportunity to legally confirm payment of the tax for the sale of a specific type of product in Russia.

On those excise stamps that contain the name “Alcohol goods from 25%”, additional information is indicated that can display the maximum container used for alcohol from this category.

It is located in close proximity to the excise number. The inscription can have one of the following types:

• “no more than 100 grams”;
• “no more than 0.5 liters”;
• “up to 1 liter”;
• “more than 1 liter.”

The excise stamp, which is directly used for alcoholic goods with the lowest alcohol content, may not contain data regarding the maximum container volume.

The presence of such information indicates registration of an alcoholic product and payment in full by the manufacturer or distributor of all fees established by law.

Penalties for counterfeiting

In accordance with Federal Law No. 171, responsibility for the reliable application and authenticity of marks lies with persons who are engaged not only in the production of alcoholic products, but also in:

• supplies;
• import;
• retail sales.

The procedure for the production and sale of alcoholic products without appropriate labeling or with obvious violations of Russian legislation entails liability on the basis of Art. 15.12 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

Criminal liability is provided in accordance with Article 171.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in the event of:

• acquisitions;
• manufacturing;
• possible storage;
• transportation and sale of goods without appropriate labeling.

Criminal liability in accordance with Article 327 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation also arises due to:

• production;
• forgery and sale of falsified documentation, stamps, forms.

Responsibility may entail a significant fine or imprisonment.

Current standards

The main regulatory document is rightfully considered Federal Law No. 171, which specifies a list of persons directly responsible for the application of reliable and authentic excise stamps.

Liability for the use of falsified excise stamps is regulated by:

This list is not exhaustive, but it includes basic data on the issue of bringing to justice in the case of the use of falsified excise stamps.

How to punish for counterfeiting and selling counterfeit goods

Since 2014, administrative and criminal liability for attempting to falsify the label of alcoholic products has been tightened. In accordance with Article 327.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, there is prosecution for creating homemade signs for sale.

The production and sale of counterfeit state signs is punishable by:

• fine from 100 to 1 million rubles, the amount depends on the volume of counterfeit;
• remuneration for a period from one year to 3 years;
• community service for up to 5 years;
• imprisonment or restriction thereof for 8 years.

All capable citizens over 16 years of age will be held responsible for their actions. This applies only to individuals. The action is considered completed immediately after obviously false marks are applied to the bottles.

If an enterprise is engaged in the sale of a surrogate, then the regulatory authorities have the right to deprive it of its license and also impose an additional penalty in the amount of 200 to 300 thousand rubles. An official involved in storage or sale is subject to a fine of 10 to 15 thousand rubles. The seller will also be sanctioned - from 4 to 5 thousand rubles. The entire batch of counterfeit goods is eliminated.

It is worth remembering that if a store sells alcohol, then alcohol excise tax checks will be frequent, but what is it? To answer the question, employees of regulatory authorities visit the establishment, take any copy from the shelf and scan it.

There is a special service for control called "". Any business with a sales license can access the site. It is enough to check the information on the bottle and on the screen to find out whether the sale of this product is legal.

It is important to remember these forms of liability after obtaining a trading license. It is worth contacting Cleverens to select high-quality equipment and software with which you can check the legality of a batch and optimize business processes within an establishment or in a warehouse.

What does additional wine labeling look like?

The size of the wine bottle sticker will be 90 x 26 mm or 63 x 12 mm. They contain information of a certain type:

• alcoholic products with an alcohol content above 9%
• sparkling wine (champagne)
• fruit alcoholic products
• wine
• liqueur wines
• alcoholic drinks

In addition, the “Russian Federation” or “Federal special stamp” is also indicated there.

Features of an additional label for wine

• special paint with visualization change
• graphic image of two non-rapport guilloche grids with marked zones and two iris transitions
• notches (not allowing re-gluing)
• phosphorescent elements with additional luminescence
• contour or direct microtext with special raster
• 6.5 mm holographic foil with a color-shifting mask effect, 3D “Bas-relief” image, demetallization and motion effect
• 4 mm thread with a figured irregular window

It is worth recalling that the law on additional labeling of wines came into force a long time ago. Although some entrepreneurs still have “counterfeit” products in their warehouses and on store shelves. It is better to conduct a complete inventory to make sure that such wines do not exist.

Otherwise, you should immediately submit an application to change the labeling. This is the only way to avoid the seizure and destruction of alcohol, which will lead to considerable financial losses.

How to spot a fake excise stamp

The first sign that should alert the client is an unevenly applied label or lid. There are other methods of counterfeit production, to track them, look carefully at the packaging:

• the container and the sign contain identical information;
• on the reverse side there must be the abbreviation RF;
• the shade becomes lighter or darker at different viewing angles;
• paper consists of a material that has an irregular window and fibers of different shades - pink stripes appear there when tilted;
• the number assigned to the brand will consist of 3 digits.

When exposed to direct sunlight, the color changes. All letters and numbers are clearly printed and unmistakable. On the side there is pressed foil with a pattern.

How to distinguish a fake?

Unscrupulous sellers often sell cheap surrogates under the guise of elite alcohol. To deceive buyers, fake tax stamps are used. In order to avoid buying surrogate alcohol, not to harm your health and not to waste money, you need to know how to distinguish counterfeit tax stamps from real ones.

You should pay attention to several points that are mandatory for a genuine brand:

• smooth edges, when you touch the stamp there are no traces of paint left on your hands;
• brand number – printed using inkjet printing;
• must have a barcode;
• there is a foil hologram in the form of a diamond with a pattern containing the abbreviation “RF” in the center;
• the hologram changes color from purple to brown;
• stamp size is either 90x26 mm or 62x21 mm;
• large-sized stamps are divided into two parts by a golden thread, which can be pulled out if desired;
• red and yellow-red fibers are visible across the entire surface of the stamp;
• in the text located at the top of the sticker, the word “brand” is printed in the negative, and “FMS” in the positive.

Script

If any of the listed signs are missing, you should be wary and possibly refuse to purchase.

In addition to visual inspection, there is an easier way to determine the authenticity of a tax stamp. All specialized stores or alcohol departments of supermarkets have special scanners that allow you to determine the authenticity of the brand, which means that the drink meets all necessary standards.

A special mobile phone application developed by Rosalkogolregulirovanie specialists will also help you check your excise stamp. To check, just point your smartphone camera at the barcode printed on the sticker. Within a few seconds, the program will compare the image with the sample and issue a verdict on the authenticity of the brand.

What to consider when purchasing alcohol

Alcoholic drinks are items that cannot be returned or exchanged. Therefore, it is better not to take containers of dubious origin. There are several nuances that are also worth checking before paying for the bottle:

• Content. If the vodka is real, no sediment should settle at the bottom. The liquid must be transparent. Cognac may leave streaks on the glass, but not dirty ones. If strange suspensions, turbidity, or tint are noticeable inside the container, it is better to refuse in favor of another type.
• Label. Everything is readable, embossed, on thick, high-quality paper, well glued to the product.
• Excise tax Made according to all the rules, printed, all signs, numbers and protection are clearly visible.
• Relief on the container. If it is expensive alcohol, then there are marks of the trading house, name, risks.
• Price. If the price is greatly reduced, it is either a stolen shipment or a fake.
• Place of purchase. You should not purchase wine, especially collectible wine, from a basement near your home, a dubious stall or a large hypermarket. It is better to do this in specialized establishments with certificates and a sales license.

Particular attention to excise duty

It is worth knowing that checking alcohol using a tax stamp is the surest way to determine the authenticity of a drink. Because large manufacturers do not save on parcels. Underground workers significantly reduce excise tax costs by using counterfeit stamps.

Excise tax by color and type of alcohol

If you don’t know how to distinguish alcohol from fake alcohol, then, firstly, the excise stamp on a bottle of alcohol can be identified by color. That is, each specific type of drink has a parcel of a certain color, and deviation from the norms indicates the non-authenticity of the drink. In particular, the hierarchy of colors by type of alcohol is as follows:

• Alcoholic drinks with an alcohol content of 25% or more have an orange-pink color;
• Drinks with an alcohol content of 9-25% (except wine) are marked with gray-red excise tax;
• The wine has a yellow-green excise color;
• Champagne and sparkling wines are covered with yellow-blue excise tax;
• Wines with an alcohol content of 15-22% are labeled lilac-green.

Determining the quality of excise tax in the store

It is worth knowing that in order to avoid counterfeiting, the parcel, just like a banknote, is printed on special paper that has several degrees of protection. At the same time, visually the excise tax must be perfectly smooth and pasted strictly in a single plane.

Visually, the differences between an excise parcel can be determined by the following characteristics:

Number clarity. The number can be used to check the excise duty and identify a counterfeit through the information resource of excise stamps.

Durability and clarity of paint and symbols. That is, when you touch the excise tax, the paint does not rub off and does not remain on your fingers. And all the characters are printed clearly and evenly.

Geometry of excise tax. The state stamp must be perfectly rectangular, without torn edges or cuts.

Stamp on the back of the excise tax. Here it is worth knowing that the letters RF are always applied on the reverse side of the stamp with brown paint. In this case, the brand is indicated by the inscription “alcohol products”. The inscription must be luminescent.

Yellow coloring of excise tax. So, if you treat brand paper with a special indicator “Ts2”, the excise tax will turn yellow. Microtext. The upper part of the parcel code contains a special microtext that can be viewed if you have 100% vision. So, in a negative image (that is, in a mirror image) the word “brand” is printed, and in a positive format the abbreviation FSM is printed.

Hologram image

We also pay attention to the hologram. In general, it should be a complex geometric pattern, and on the code, in the center of it, the letters RF are located in rhombuses.

Gold stripe on parcels

It should not just be painted on the excise paper, but should be woven into the paper in the form of threads. Moreover, this feature is clearly visible on a quality stamp. Sometimes you can even pull the thread and it will give way.

How to check the excise tax on alcohol yourself

All you have to do is take any container with a sign and scan it. This can be done through the Anti-Counterfeiting application on your mobile phone, which was developed by Rosalkogolregulirovanie.

In addition, the program contains information about all premises with all permits available near the user where alcoholic beverages are sold.

It is possible to determine the quality, strength and composition with 100% accuracy only in a special laboratory. This method is usually used by law enforcement agencies when drinking caused the death of a person or caused serious harm to health.

Barcode on the label

The barcode carries a lot of information, in particular:

• About the country of origin;
• About the name of the product, its category;
• About the expiration date;
• About the authenticity of the digital code;

It seems that there is nothing difficult about faking a label, but the combination of numbers at the end of a 13-digit barcode allows you to identify an error. The verification system is so simple, so fake barcodes are stamped without taking into account the payment system, which is why they are caught during verification. And attempts to take into account the peculiarities of verification do not produce tangible results.

Barcodes can be of 2 types: 13- and 12-digit, depending on the country using this system. For example, in the European system the code consists of 13 digits, and in Canada and the USA it consists of 12 characters.

You can check the barcode by downloading an application for your phone's operating system. You can use the service and check alcoholic and other alcoholic products online.

Poisoning with low-quality alcohol

With regard to a surrogate, it is impossible to say with certainty what raw materials were used and under what conditions the drink was made. Accordingly, one cannot even imagine what consequences this will have for the drunk person.

The most dangerous is methanol. This is wood alcohol, which can be fatal if added in large quantities to intoxicating liquid. Such dilution is often done by unscrupulous manufacturers to increase profits.

Among the consequences of poisoning with low-grade alcohol are the following:

• disability;
• liver failure;
• retinal damage;
• deterioration of the nervous system;
• inhibition of all body functions;
• damage to internal organs;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• development of mental illnesses and disorders.

You need to be especially careful when choosing substances stronger than beer.

What does the phrase “not a tax stamp” mean?

It is worth carefully inspecting each bottle that comes into the lot in the store. Sometimes a similar piece of paper is attached to the place where the excise tax is placed. The inscription will be small, buyers usually do not read it. But such products cannot be registered in the Unified State Automated Information System. In case of inspection, the establishment will face problems with the regulatory authority.

In addition, such a product can be dangerous. No one guarantees its quality; no tests or necessary studies have been carried out. This is usually the cheapest alcohol without trying to replicate the taste of the original drink. The cost of producing such counterfeit products is minimal. Responsibility comes in any case.

Therefore, it is worth contacting Cleverence and purchasing equipment and software with which you can check alcohol using the Unified State Automated Information System at the time of acceptance. This will help you avoid purchasing non-excise or counterfeit products.

Check alcohol by excise stamp online

Especially for checking excise stamps online, the “Stamp Check” service has been launched; it is located on the website of the Federal Service for Regulation of the Alcohol Market at fsrar.ru. Only the regulatory authority or licensed enterprises have the right to use it. The service allows you to compare the information entered into the Unified State Automated Information System with the information on the bottle label and thus quickly identify counterfeit goods.

Checking alcohol by excise stamp is possible after registering in the system; then you need to enter the organization’s tax identification number and password. You need to scan the two-dimensional barcode with a scanner, the system will generate a request. In a few seconds, information about the brand details will appear on the monitor, and it can also be easily printed.