KABUL, September 29 (RIA Novosti) - Sales of bootleg spirits posing as Russian Stolichnaya vodka are on the rise in Afghanistan, the independent Afghan daily Arman-e Melli reported on Monday.
The paper said the Afghan-produced 'Stolichnaya' is made from sultana grapes, unlike the genuine article, which is made from wheat, rye and artesian water. The fake vodka is produced mainly in northern provinces of Afghanistan, and put in Pakistani-made bottles.
On the Afghan black market, the bootleg vodka is even more expensive than original liquors smuggled from neighboring countries.
In 1980, before liquors were banned in the country, genuine Stolichnaya along with Moldovan brandy were readily available in Afghan stores.
