KIEV, May 23 – Ukrainian breweries have said they are alarmed at the plans of Ukrainian lawmakers to triple existing excise duties on beer.

Director General of SUN InBev Ukraine, one of the largest brewing companies in Ukraine, Liudmyla Nakonechna, said at a meeting of the parliamentary commission for customs and tax policies on Wednesday that lawmakers are acting in the interests of alcohol lobbyists.

"We believe that those things that happen now around beer are aimed at putting pressure on the breweries and creating more favorable conditions for competing segments of the alcohol industry. Let's be honest: this is obvious," she said.